If you haven’t tried couscous, you must! Especially if your household is a rice loving kind like ours. Even though it’s technically a pasta, it’s affordable like rice and cooks up even easier. It’s bland when cooked alone, but because of that, you can make it special with your own additions. Everything from raisins to nuts or just broth. Couscous is that versatile! And the kids gobble it up.

Of course being summer and all, the grill is always ready to go. So when I spotted Ahi for $5.99 a lb, I jumped on it! Made into a salad, it goes a lot further. Add some biscuits and no one will go hungry.

Couscous:

1 1/2 cup couscous – (buy in bulk. Super cheap)$.87
2 3/4 cups chicken broth (water with 1 Tbsp bouillon works too) – pantry
Herbs and Seasonings of your choice to enhance flavor (sauted veggies are great too)

COST: $.87

In a saucepan with a good, tight lid, bring broth (or water) to a boil. Add bouillon to water and stir. Add couscous, stir and remove from heat. Immediately cover and allow to sit for 5 minutes. Fluff with fork and serve. Couscous should be light and fluffy, not gummy.

Grilled Ahi Salad:

2 Ahi Steaks (about a 1 pound, so catch a sale) – $6.19
1/2 head lettuce of your choice – $.49
1 Large Roma Tomato – $.15
1 red Pepper – $.88
2 Tbsps Soul or Cajun Seasoning – pantry
1 Tbsp Canola Oil – pantry

COST: $7.71

Coat Ahi steak in seasoning. Heat grill to medium high heat. Before placing tuna on grill, drizzle with oil. Cook for 4-5 mins on each side. You can grill on higher heat and just sear, or cook through. Your choice. When done to your taste, remove from grill and let rest.

Prepare simple salad and plate fish over salad. We serve with just lemon wedges because the flavor is so fresh and delicious.

Mimi’s Biscuits:

This is a very simple biscuit recipe and super delicious! Believe it or not, I got it from a book and NOT a cook book. I read it in Shem Creek, by Dorthea Benton Frank. I sometimes modify mine with lard. Today, I went straight butter. I have to say, butter does make these special. Not only perfect for the roast, but great in the morning with jelly and a nice cup of coffee.

2 cups all purpose flour – .50
1 Tbsp baking powder – Pantry
1/2 tsp salt – Pantry
1/3 cup vegetable shortening or lard (or even butter) – .20
3/4 cup milk – .25

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Sift flour, baking powder and salt together. Cut in lard and butter. Stir in milk. Lightly flour a large cutting board or countertop. Place dough in center. Knead lightly, 10 times or so. Lightly roll out to 1/2 inch thick and cut with floured metal cutter or I used a small glass, or in my case, I just formed oval shapes.

Bake 10-12 min. Serve hot and enjoy! Makes about 10-12 biscuits.

COST: $.95

GRAND TOTAL: $9.53