Chicken & Veggie Couscous

    It’s September… back to school time already! Boy did that breeze by quickly, but I hope everyone enjoyed a few lazy, hazy days of summer. There has been a lot of uncertainty as to our schools reopening. However, as we transition and prepare, my goal is to help lessen your stresses of meal planning and back to school. Whether or not our children resume school in the classroom or at home, this nutritious meal is flavorful, yet simple and good for the learning brain. It’s an easy and delicious dish that can be made for dinner and is perfect for lunch the next day. 
    Couscous is made from steamed balls of semolina flour. Although we normally think of it more as a grain, it’s technically a pasta. Fast, easy and versatile, couscous goes wonderfully with many combinations of food.
    So, choose to serve it warm, cold, or room temperature. Also, don’t forget to experiment and interchange ingredients, this way you satisfy everyone in your family’s taste buds!

Ingredients
• 2 boxes of couscous (I use Near East brand – 5.9 ounce boxes)
• Chicken broth 3-4 cups 
• 2 bunches of green scallions sliced thin (use some green tops too)
• 2 yellow zucchini diced
• 2 bags petite frozen peas
• 1 roasted chicken (I bought cooked in market) cut into bite size chunks
• Fresh chives, fresh parsley chopped
• 2 pints of tri-color cherry tomatoes cut in 1/2
• ½ cup olive oil
• 1 packet (or more of Goya Sazón seasoning depending on taste)
• Fresh pepper and salt

Cut up the roasted chicken into bite size pieces and place them in a bowl. In a frying pan with some olive oil, place the zucchini pieces with the sliced scallions and sauté until soft. Add the Sazón seasoning and mix well, now add all fresh herbs and seasonings. Toss with chicken. Prepare in a pot the couscous according to directions (about 5 minutes). I replace the water with chicken broth in preparing the couscous to give it added flavor. Toss everything together and add fresh tomatoes. Taste for more seasonings and DONE! Enjoy! Wishing everyone a HAPPY and SAFE ~ New School Year! xoxo Denise