Jun 29 2009
Rough Guide to North Africa
Which is the name of the album Dougal put on after tea and really nothing to do with the authenticity of our eats çe soir.
My dad had kindly gifted us some Gorno’s Merguez (the original and best, as far as I’m concerned) and it seemed fitting to serve them with something cous cous-y. I know nothing about cooking cous cous (I do occasionally have it for lunch but generally just make a crunchy salad, lots of peppers and cucumber and what not, and mix that through cous cous) so deferred to the internet. This apricot and almond couscous was really nice; despite starting out proper boot-leather chewy, the apricots were tender but still a bit meaty (probably literally, seeing as it will have been the addition of chicken stock which redeemed them!) and the toasted almonds added texture and crunch. Sadly we were missing mint which would have really lifted this but the lemony-ness helped.
The sausages were just grilled and tasted great. Some lemony courgette slivers on the side were a vague but directionless attempt at an appropriate vegetable- nice but not really the right result, and not enough of them either!
We finished up with a simple fruit salad of alphonso mango and scottish rasps. It may not be remotely North African but let me tell you, it takes some beating.
sounds good.
I always used to think couscous were (or is that was) a bit dull, but a good recipe makes it brill. Perhaps I need to try this one.
Do you want us (or maybe Granny) to pot up some mint for your window ledge?
Mint would be most welcome. We did have one and loved using it but it bought it while we were away and we’ve not bought one since on account of them only being teeny pots (waitrose does most of its herbs in large pots too but hasn’t had mint recently). Thank you!
what size of pot can you cope with?
oh those raspberries did look wonderful too
Our little pot stand things (for containing watering over spill) have an internal diameter of 11.7cm so the base should be no bigger than that. However we have a little ficus which is in a reasonably substantial teracotta pot, about 15cm tall. Thanks!