Wookiee Hut Cuisine presents:
 Couscous & Couscous
by McGonagirl, Hermi2

Hermione had left the Gryffindor common room in a huff ... again. Harry sighed, wondering if Ron would ever learn to stop antagonizing her about one thing or another. He wondered what it was about this time?

He found out at "the feed," which is the meal the Hogwart's Houses staged in their common rooms, rather than in the Great Hall, where the other meals and snacks were taken. It was a time when students could share packets of things sent from home, or show off their culinary skills. Or it could be just some plain biscuits and a glass of milk, before turning into bed, or perhaps a cup of hot tea.

But tonight, Ron and Hermione each came in with a pot of something hot ... and it smelled good! They still acted angry with one another, but they worked together to dish out a scoop from each pot onto plates, and passing them along to the gathered students, along with a spoon.

"Ronald and I have had a disagreement about couscous," explained Hermione, "and so we agreed to each make up our own versions, and put it to a vote within the House. He reckons my version is 'unhealthy' because I add cheese, but it's delicious and I put plenty of vegetables in it —"

"But it's hardly a side dish," interrupted Ron. "It's more like a full meal. We were talking about accompanying a roast! You don't even use REAL couscous, you use that stuff out of a box! And the loser will be called 'Couscous' for the rest of the year ..."

"Well, MY couscous is every bit as respectable as you, Couscous," declared Hermione.

"Don't blame me if you break out in spots, Couscous," countered Ron. "And don't call me couscous, you couscous!" They weren't making much sense ...

But no one heard much else, because both versions were attacked with gusto. There was no contest however, since everyone agreed the two dishes were just so different, but equally good. And they were even good if mixed together to eat, too! Everyone wanted BOTH recipes — you can tell who wrote which just by the way they limned the formulas:


Vegetable and Cheese Couscous
 Never one to disappoint when it came to thoroughness, Hermione set about the task of writing out her recipe with a precision which made Ron gag ... but there would be no uncertainty when this formula as prepared! And it really is a very good one-dish meal, or it can feel quite a lot of people as a side dish.

    The Software
  • 1 box plain instant couscous
  • 3 cups water
  • 2 teaspoons butter or olive oil
  • ½ bell pepper, chopped
  • ½ cucumber, chopped (peel on or off)
  • ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese ( not the stuff from the green bottle….)
  • ¼ teaspoon salt, or to taste
  • ½ carrot chopped up like other veggies
    Hardware
  • 1 medium pot
  • 1 lid that fits on pot
  • 1 spoon
  • 1 knife
  • 1 bowl
  • 1 cutting board
  • 1 person (cook)
  • 2-4 people (eaters
    Procedure
  1. Put water in pot
  2. Put butter/ olive oil in pot
  3. Turn heat to high
  4. Wait till water and butter/ olive oil boil
  5. Evacuate pot off heat to another burner
  6. Turn knob to the off position
  7. Pour in Couscous
  8. Stir in couscous
  9. Put on lid
  10. Walk over to microwave/oven
  11. Set timer for 5 minutes
  12. Hit star button
  13. Chop pepper
  14. Chop cucumber
  15. Chop carrot
  16. Grate Parmesan
  17. Walk to table
  18. Pull out chair
  19. Sit in Chair
  20. Read until timer beeps
  21. Get up
  22. Push in chair
  23. Walk over to stove
  24. Lift lid
  25. Stir couscous
  26. Take pot over to counter
  27. Pour couscous into bowl
  28. Stir in: Carrots, Cucumbers, Peppers, Cheese, Salt
  29. Taste
  30. Add salt if necessary
  31. Pick up bowl
  32. Walk over to table
  33. Place bowl on table
  34. Put spoon in couscous
  35. Scoop out couscous
  36. Put in plate/bowl
  37. Pull out chair
  38. Sit
  39. Eat
  40. Repeat
Back to the Menu: CousCousCousCous


Rosemary and Red Pepper Couscous
 Ron's preference was to this flavorful concoction, which was made at the Weasley home any time his mother needed a quick and tasty accompaniment to leftover stew or slices of a roast from the day before. As one of the younger children, it was Ron's task to put this on the table on days when his mother was late getting home, and it's much tastier than plain rice or bread, too!

  • 8 cups water (2 quarts / 2 litres)
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 4 tablespoons dried rosemary
  • 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 2 tablespoons salt
  • 4 cups couscous (out of a box is actually okay)
Boil the water in a pot or a kettle. Keep it hot.
In a heavy bottomed, medium to large sized pot, melt the butter with the olive oil, and add the rosemary, red pepper flakes, and salt. Cook till the rosemary sizzles and gives off a nice, strong smell. Add the couscous and stir it well to coat all the couscous — it will look "sandy" in texture. Keep stirring and cooking till the couscous starts to brown — you'll smell it.

Turn off the heat and add the water, while stirring hard. Put the lid on the pot and let it sit for at least 20 minutes. When the time is up, stir it up to make it fluffy.

Makes 16 side dish portions (or one full house of Weasleys!).

Back to the Menu: CousCousCousCous
Disclaimer: All content is made up, and no profit or lucre is expected, solicited, advocated or paid. This is all just for fun. Any comments, please e-mail the author or WOOKIEEhut directly. Flames will be ignored. Characters and situations are based on those which are the property of LucasFilms Ltd., Bantam Publishing, Random House, and their respective original owners and developers. The rest is this story's author's own fault. This story may not be posted anywhere without the author's knowledge, consent, and permission.

This recipe is provided "as is," and neither Wookieehut nor any person associated with the website is responsible for any success or failure of the recipe, nor any implied effects. If there are questions, please email the author.