The Spanish Inquisition Ain't Got Nothing On This Crew

Don't Let The Name Fool You...This Is A MUST Try

I am far from rebellious.  In fact, I am not much of a risk taker at all.  About as ethnic, where food is involved, as I go, is Mexican....and I grew up and spent the majority of my adult life in Texas.  It's not a stretch.  My husband, however, has traveled the globe and likes all food.  Although, there are a couple of items he "doesn't prefer"(he makes us say that when we don't like food....I guess 'hate' and 'I would rather die than eat that' are a little strong)....one being curry.  No problem there.  Anything that smells like dirty socks, I can certainly avoid.  The other is couscous.  Fine with me...it sounds weird for sure.

That was until I got the Cook's Country last month.  They had a 30 Minute Supper called Maple-Dijon Chicken with Bacon Couscous.  I looked at the picture and couscous looks like little round pieces of rice.  Nothing scary about that, right?  Now, talking my family into eating this may be the hard part.  Clearly, they are not fooled easily.  And I do not have a poker face.  But, I had all the ingredients on hand except the couscous (which only cost a dollar) and the wheels of fate were already in motion. It was out of my hands at this point.

It's funny how when I am trying to pass off a meal that may not go well, everyone asks me multiple times what's for dinner.  The one that asked me the most this night was, of course, my husband.  Him: What's for dinner?  Me: Oh, it's a new one, Maple Dijon Chicken.  Him: What are you making with it?  Me: Oh, it's got this bacon side dish thing that you make with it.  Him sensing my evasiveness:  What's in it?  Me: Bacon.  Him: ....  Me: .....  Him: Wh...  Me interrupting:  Well, I guess I better go and start dinner!  See you when you get home!   I'm hanging up the phone when Ryan walks in.  Ryan: What's for dinner?  Me: Maple Dijon Chicken.  Ryan:  What else?  Me (with narrowed eyes): This bacon side dish that goes with it.  Ryan:  Wha....  Me interrupting: Go clean your room.

I mean, really.  It was like this for the rest of the night.  The Spanish Inquisition had nothing on this family.  Mark (husband), realizing what he was being served just looked at the food and looked at me.  Me (with a big bright smile, feigning ignorance) : It's like little round rice....AND there's bacon in it!  It  can't be all bad if there is bacon in it... Him (still staring, not blinking): .....  Me: Okay.  Fine.  It's couscous.  Just try it for goodness sake. (Heavy sigh-eyes rolled-muttering to myself as I leave the room).

Funny thing was.  It was so dang good!  I've already made it again in the time it took me to write this up.  I cannot tell you enough, how fantastic and easy this was!  My non-couscous eating husband got seconds on couscous and said to put this into rotation!  We all loved it and it was a 30 minute supper!  Trust me on this one.  Try it for goodness sake! (Heavy sigh-eyes rolled-muttering to myself as I type this)

The Ingredients

The Maple-Dijon Glaze

Cook's Country Dec/Jan 2013