Couscous Fruit Salad

This is such an easy dish to make and take with you to a potluck or summer picnic. Its also very healthy and kid friendly. I've been known to eat it at all hours of the day. It's good served at room temp or cold. Enjoy!

Cook the couscous using the directions on the box for the time, but substitute juice (apple, cranberry or white grape) for the water and don't add the salt and oil.

Mix together 1 chopped apple, a can of mandarin oranges (drained), sliced grapes, dried cranberries and pineapple (fresh is better, but canned works)

If you don't have any of the fruits, its fine, just put in what you have; if another fruit inspires you (blueberries, raspberries, etc.), add it!

Mix the couscous with the fruit, chill and enjoy at any time of day!

Pumpkin Bread

Hello from snowy Washington, DC! Grandma Dee Dee requested my recipe for my mom's pumpkin bread so I thought I would share it with the world. As always, its super easy and delicious!

Notes:

I really like the cooking sprays that are made for baking specifically. They have flour in them and make it extremely easy to release the goods from the pans. I recommend keeping a canister in your pantry.

Pumpkin and chocolate are flavors that go extremely well together. I know this may seem weird to some, but trust me on this one. If you don't want to put the chocolate chips into the batter, you can also drizzle some chocolate syrup or hot fudge on top. If you like chocolate, you will not be disappointed.

3 1/3 c. sifted flour

2 t. baking soda

1 t. salt

1 t. nutmeg

1 t. cinnamon

1 t. ground cloves

3 c. white sugar

1 c. vegetable oil

4 eggs, beaten

2/3 c. water

2 c. canned pumpkin

1 c. mini chocolate chips (optional)

Heat oven to 350. Grease 3 loaf pans.

1. Sift all of the dry ingredients together.

2. Mix sugar, oil, eggs and water together.

3. Add dry ingredients to wet -- always. Mix until smooth.

4. Add pumpkin, mix until smooth.

5. Pour batter into 3 medium greased loaf pans.

6. Mix chocolate chips into any or all of the pans.

7. Bake at 350 for 1 hour or until tester comes out clean.