Spring is totes in the air. At least it is here in Los Angeles. I’ve been running around in shorts and flip flops and it’s been just lovely. Okay, so maybe I wear flip flops year round, but that’s besides the point. Spring is right around the corner and that is crazy exciting and this year it’s is going to bring with it some very fun adventures this year… I’ll be heading to NYC for a week for the annual IACP conference, one of my favorite events of the year! And then I’ll be heading out of the country for surprise vacation a few weeks later.
You see, every year my parents take my sister and I on a surprise vacation. So basically my sister and I block out 2 weeks on the calendar and my parents plan a surprise trip. We get clues along the way, but this year I have a feeling they are going to be uber hard since my sister and I are just so darn smart. But I’ve got a sneaking suspicious that this year we might be going to Africa. Basically I’ve been bugging my parents for 100 billion years to go to Africa. I mean we’ve been all over Europe together, I’ve done quite a bit of Central America, so the next logical place to go would be Africa. Plus I’d really like to go on safari. And I’d like to go swim with great white sharks. Clearly I’d be in a cage. But I’d like to go. I’ll keep you posted on clues when my parents hand them over. It would be fun to crack the clues!! But it’s also fun to hop on a plane and jet set to some random connecting flight and find out where we are going once we are on the plane!
So there are a lot of fun things coming up this spring. Not to mention planning this little party I’m throwing later this summer. You might have heard me talking about it before… it’s called my wedding!
And to celebrate the fact that spring is basically here, I’ve created this awesome and flavorful Spring Couscous Salad. I grabbed some fresh peas and asparagus from my farmers market last weekend – basically they were gorgeous and I had to have them. I cooked them up, tossed them with some Israeli couscous, chopped up bacon and a little bacon fat, threw in a squeeze of lemon juice and some zest, tossed it all together and seasoned it with salt and pepper and then called it a day. It’s bright. And delicious. And it will make you happy. You could totally leave out the bacon if you’re not into that kind of thing… but I’m in a little bit of a bacon phase at the moment. So make this. And pour yourself a tall glass of white wine sangria and then relax 🙂
Spring Couscous Salad
Ingredients
- 1 cup Israeli couscous
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 2 cups chicken stock
- 3 pieces of bacon
- 1/2 cup fresh English peas
- 1 bunch asparagus trimmed and cut into 1 inch pieces
- 1 lemon zested and juiced
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Combine the olive oil and couscous in a large skillet over medium high heat. Toast the couscous until just golden brown and then add the chicken stock. Stir occasionally and let cook until all the liquid is gone. Transfer the cooked couscous to a bowl and set aside.
- Place another skillet over medium heat. Add the strips of bacon and cook until crisp on both sides. Remove bacon from the skillet and add the trimmed asparagus. Saute for 4-5 minutes and season with salt and pepper as needed. Add the asparagus to the cooked couscous.
- Bring a small pot of water to a boil. Add the peas and blanch for about 3 minutes. Drain the peas and shock them in an ice bath. Add peas to the couscous mixture.
- Toss together the couscous and vegetables with the lemon juice and zest. Taste and adjust salt and pepper if desired. Also, feel free to add a teaspoon or so of the bacon drippings if desired. Serve warm or at room temperature.
I want this salad, I want your vacation, and I want your life.
umm how cool is that that your parents take you on a 2 week surprise vacation ever year?!?! Can’t wait to hear more about those clues!!
Lovely spring salad!
I love everything about that salad…and of course, we’ll put some slices of avocado on top! Keeping my fingers crossed that you get your wish for Africa! Our niece is in Kenya…if you go, stop and say hi! She runs a school for orphans due to AIDS.
I love couscous!
This sounds so delicious!
Yay, spring, shorts, and flip flops (and spring salads)!
Firstly, this salad is so uplifting to just look at. Secondly, I bet it tastes so fresh and amazing!
Gorgeous salad Gaby! I love Israeli cous cous!!
Salad and sangria – sounds perfect! It’s suppose to be a balmy 75 degrees and sunny in San Diego today – I feel so fortunate 🙂
This sounds delightful!
That Surprise Trip is the coolest thing I have ever heard. I am officially inspired. I am broaching the idea to my husband tonight!! What an awesome thing to look forward to ever year!
it would be so amazing for your kids! It’s literally the highlight of my year 🙂
I hope it’s AFRICA!!! So many great pictures!
Surprise vacation – what a cool idea! Can’t wait to hear where you get to go!
That is my kind of salad!
Nice looking spring salad!
I SO wish your parents could teach my parents that little trick!! That is SO exciting!
Looks amazing! Good thing my farmers market opens next weekend, I will be there to buy the ingredients!
Help! I can’t get to the knock you naked brownies post. Everytime i click on it it takes me to a blank page.
Can’t wait to try this recipe–looks like the perfect lunch!
I have got to make this! It looks so good. Farmer’s market, here I come. How good would this be with baked salmon, French onion soup and some garlic bread? Yum!
Wow, this looks delicious!! I’m going to try it with Quinoa! Thanks