I might have mentioned before that I can be lazy sometimes. (Ahem, most of the time.)

So lazy that I always keep some whole wheat couscous in the pantry. Always.

You know why?

Because it takes only 5 minutes to cook. 5 minutes!

5 has always been a magical number for me.

I won’t get into that, but it just is.

So, how does one jazz up a pot of couscous and make it into an actual dinner? Clearly I make “actual dinners” for myself all the time. A gooey grilled cheese sandwich with a side of baby carrots counts, right?

But anyways.

Add some lightly sauteed carrots, bright red bell pepper, minced garlic, spicy red pepper flakes, fresh lemon juice, crisp cucumbers, a dollop of creamy hummus and top it all off with fragrant basil!

Man.

Now I’m excited all over again.

P.S. Cook that couscous in veg broth because we’re always trying to make things a little more flavorful over here.