Winter Couscous

Serving: 3

Ingredients:

1.    1 (6 oz) box of couscous (I used Near East Pearled Couscous - Original Plain)

2.    2 garlic heads

3.    1/2 cup of olive oil

4.    1/4 cup of chopped parsley

5.    2 sweet potatoes

6.    2 1/2 cups of vegetable broth (or however much liquid is needed to cook your couscous)

6.   Salt and Pepper to taste

Directions:

Roasted Garlic:

1.  Pre-heat your oven to 400 degrees F

2.  Remove the paper layers of the garlic of the garlic head. Slice the top of the cloves. 

3.  Place the garlic in tin foil and drizzle 2 - 3 tablespoons of olive oil over it. Seal the garlic in the tin foil. 

4.  Cook the garlic for 40 minutes or until the garlic has browned and softened.

Sweet Potato:

1.  Slice your sweet potatoes into 1/2 inch pieces. 

2.  Place in a small bowl and mix with 2 tablespoons of olive oil.

3. Add salt and pepper to taste. Mix well.

4. Spray your baking sheet with non-stick cooking spray. Evenly spread the sweet potatoes on the baking sheet. 

5. Bake the sweet potatoes for 30 minutes. 

Couscous:

1. While the garlic and sweet potatoes are cooking, cook the couscous in vegetable broth.

2. Once the garlic and sweet potatoes are finished cooking add into the couscous along with the parsley.

3. Add some salt and pepper to taste if desired.

Apple Pie Puff Pastry

Servings: 8

Ingredients:

1. 5 medium sized apples - about 3 to 3 1/2 cups of diced apples (I used Honey Crisp)

2. 1 teaspoon lemon juice

3. 2 tablespoons brown sugar

4. 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

5. 3 tablespoons flour

6. 1 puff pastry sheet (I used Pepperidge Farm Puff Pastry)

7. 1 Egg

Directions:

1. Pre-heat your oven to 400 degrees.

2. Spray baking sheet with non-stick spray. Place your pastry sheet flat down and let defrost. 

3. Peel and cut the apples into 1/2 inch pieces.

4. Place your diced apples in a bowl with the lemon juice, brown sugar, cinnamon, and flour. Mix well!

5. Evenly spread your apple mixture on the puff pastry. 

6. Tightly roll your pastry mixture. 

7. In a small bowl, whisk the egg and brush on top of the puff pastry. This will give your pastry a beautiful golden-brown color.

8. Place in the oven for 20-25 minutes or until your pastry begins to brown. 

*Note: If you have powdered sugar, feel free to sprinkle some on top of your pastry to give a nice coloring. 

Lemon Za'atar Chicken

Serving: 6

Ingredients:

1. 1 pack 8-piece chicken

2. 1/4 cup za'atar seasoning

3. 1/3 cup olive oil

4. 1 large lemon

Directions:

1. Pre-heat your oven to 375 degrees.

2. Mix za'atar and olive oil.

3. Brush the za'atar mixture on all sides of your chicken - under the skin too!

4. Place in a baking pan and slice lemons around the chicken.

5. Cook the chicken for 30 minutes.

6. Take the chicken out and squeeze the lemon juice over the chicken.

*Note: The lemons are very hot - to avoid burning your fingers, take tongs to squeeze the lemons

7. Place the chicken back in the oven for 45 minutes to 1 hour longer.

*Note: I usually leave my dark meat in longer than my white meat to avoid drying it out.