Tuesday

Couscous with Toasted Pine Nuts ~ Plus Give Away! October 2010 ~ Winner Chosen!



Any Barefoot Contessa fans here?






Ina Garten's (The Barefoot Contessa)  new cookbook, "Barefoot Contessa ~ How Easy is That?" is due to be released one week from today (on Tuesday October 26th).  

I'm looking forward to receiving my copy from amazon.com and I would love to give one lucky entrant a chance to win a  copy, delivered to the winner directly from amazon.com


If you click here to go to amazon and scroll down, you can find a sample of two recipes (perfect for Fall) from the book:
 "Herb Roasted Turkey Breast" and "Easy Cranberry & Apple Cake".  And if you visit the Barefoot Contessa website you can find a few more preview recipes from the book.

This is one of them ~ Couscous with Toasted Pine Nuts:

I think almost everyone is familiar with couscous, but if not ~ it is a very fine, tiny dried pasta (not a grain) which is ready in minutes.  Here's what it looks like before adding boiling water or stock:





This is quite similar to the Couscous with Toasted Pine Nuts recipe which I have made for a long time, and it is soo easy.  Just saute some chopped onion in oil or butter over medium heat until the onion is tender and translucent but not browned.
Add stock, or water and salt to the cooked onions, bring to a boil, stir in the couscous. Immediately remove from heat and cover the pan. 








Allow to sit, off heat, for 5 to 10 minutes until stock is absorbed and couscous is tender. Fluff with a fork and stir in some toasted pine nuts and chopped fresh parsley; serve hot.





I usually add a squeeze of fresh lemon juice to my couscous after cooking, and just because it is still basil season here,  I added some chopped fresh basil to the parsley this time, and sprinkled with a few shards of fresh Parmesan Reggiano cheese.

Very good and so easy to prepare.  It's great with grill or roasted meats, fish or chicken.



Details for the Give Away....


1.) The drawing is open to all of "Once Upon a Plate" Google friends followers (see side bar) world wide. Please join now if you're not a follower. :)

2.) To double your chances, be a follower on my facebook page. (See right column, first entry)


3.) State your status (follower, face book follower, or both in your comment)



Entries will be accepted until 9PM Pacific Time,  October 31st, 2010

Winner will be announced November 1st.

Good luck to all who enter!!

* * * * * *


If you would like a printable copy of the Couscous with Toasted Pine Nuts recipe, you can find it on my recipe blog by clicking HERE

Thank you for stopping by! xo ~m.

P.S.  . . .




Not feeling so LUCKY?

You can learn more about the book, or pre-order it by clicking the image below. 


                                                                 


Comments Closed ~ Winner Chosen.  Thank you for participating everyone!





61 comments:

  1. Mari, YOur images are so luscious! They would make even me eat couscous.(It's a texture thing).
    I would love a chance to win this foodie's delight of a giveaway!
    I am a facebook and google blog faithful follower!
    Yvonne

    ReplyDelete
  2. Great recipe and thanks for the chance. I am a google follower.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Oh, wow, you are so sweet to give your overseas friends a chance to win! I love Ina and watch the "Barefoot Contessa" all of the time! Thanks so much for sharing this recipe and for the wonderful give away.

    Best wishes always,
    Natasha.

    ReplyDelete
  4. beautiful photos and it looks delish. aren't you sweet sharing a copy of this book, i am already in the que at the library, it looks wonderful, i enjoy all she does.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Blog follower and Facebook follower. You are an excellent photographer! Good Luck Everyone!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Mari, I am a follower AND a FB follower! I would LOVE to win this cookbook, so I am crossing my fingers:):) XO, Pinky

    ReplyDelete
  7. I like the way the couscous looks in the copper pot, it's so French! This is quite a nice giveaway! I wish everyone luck!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Ina is such a great teacher. I love her recipes.
    I am the only one at home who eats cous cous but I really like it.
    Of course I follow your blog,

    ReplyDelete
  9. Lovely giveaway Mari...I follow on both FB & blog :)

    Blessings!
    Gail

    ReplyDelete
  10. I'ma follower, a Facebook follower, and I love your photos! Can we come live with you? haha

    ReplyDelete
  11. Love Ina; I make her recipes all the time. I follow you here AND on facebook1

    Cheers and thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Hi Mari. Whoo-hoo - I love all thinks Ina and am eager to add her new book to my collection. Thanks so much for the opportunity to enter your giveaway. I'm a long time follower on your blog, and just sent a request to follow you on facebook.

    Thanks again,
    :)
    ButterYum

    ReplyDelete
  13. Love Ina.
    I'm a Google follower and how a FB follower.

    ReplyDelete
  14. I'm a follower :o)
    What a generous giveaway..I'd love to be entered into the draw please. I watch Ina here in the UK on Sky and have cooked many of her fanstastic recipes - so her new book would be the icing on the cake!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Love that photo of the scoop of couscous on that blue plate! Thanks for the chance to win...I love how real Ina is! I'm a follower here & on FB :-)

    ReplyDelete
  16. How exciting. Love Ina!!! I am a follower here and on facebook. Your photos of the couscous look so great. Susan

    ReplyDelete
  17. Looks great! I'm GFC follower bluejeanbaby and a FB follower.

    ReplyDelete
  18. what a wonderful giveaway and cant wait to try this recipe,im a faithful follower and facebook fan!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Hi Mari ~ It's so exciting when Ina comes out with a new book. I know we will have lots of wonderful recipes to try, like this one for couscous.

    I follow you on both your blog and facebook.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Follower and friend~ Love the couscous pic..I love Ina..

    ReplyDelete
  21. I'm a follower of your blog and I like Ina almost as much as you!

    ReplyDelete
  22. I'm an email follower and I look forward to your posts. Jan
    jaminator8@earthlink.net

    ReplyDelete
  23. I am a follower of your blog already, and I just followed/friended you on facebook. Please enter me in the chance to win this giveaway!

    ReplyDelete
  24. Breathtaking pics Mary!
    You know I am a follower everywhere...:)
    I do not usually win anything, but enter me...what the heck!
    xo

    ReplyDelete
  25. I'm a fan of Ina Garten, and her new book looks wonderful! I also follow your blog.

    ReplyDelete
  26. I love love love the Barefoot Contessa. I have all her cookbooks and am so excited about this one. I'm a follower on google and on Facebook.
    I'll be trying the cousous recipe soon.
    Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Wow, I'd love to win that--I've become a follower on both facebook and your site! Thank you for the pleasure of a beautiful blog.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Your photos and food are truly works of art...works of art that make me hungry. I am a follower and a Facebook friend. Glad to see you there. Please enter me.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Wonderful to see you on Facebook. I'm a friend and have been a follower for a while now. I'd like a chance in the drawing.

    ReplyDelete
  30. I'm a HUGE Ina fan. I've kept my library, my daughter's and my daughter's-in-law libraries well-stocked with Barefoot Contessa cookbooks! :-D I'm waiting with great anticipation for the new one. The couscous recipe sounds easy and delicious - great attributes for any recipe!

    You know I follow you here (like a little puppy!) and on FB (twice - how did THAT happen??)

    Great giveaway, Mari - and beautiful photos, as always.

    ReplyDelete
  31. I would love to win. I am making this cous cous. It looks great.

    ReplyDelete
  32. I am a blog follower. And that recipe sounds yummy!

    ReplyDelete
  33. I love couscous and Ina Garten. I am a follower of your great blog and would love to win your give a way. Please enter me.

    ReplyDelete
  34. Being a blog follower and a FB follower, you know that I seriously enjoy cooking. I keep coming back to your blog for great recipes. Good cooks inspire me, and Ina is another one that I love to watch. Wining her new book - how great would that be? =)

    ReplyDelete
  35. I'm a follower who gets hungry every time I look at your blog! It is wonderful! Thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  36. New follower on GFC, katklaw777.
    Luv your bog...you always make me hungry!

    ReplyDelete
  37. I am a blog follower and sent a friend request on FB. Thanks so much for the giveaway! I love Ina and I love your blog! o:)

    ReplyDelete
  38. I'm a google follower and Facebook follower.
    Thank you for you wonderful posts.

    ReplyDelete
  39. I'm a follower & FB follower :)

    ReplyDelete
  40. I'm a google reader subscriber and blog follower! I love your blog - and will be trying the couscous and pine nut recipe ASAP! :)

    ReplyDelete
  41. You know I'm an Ina fan. :-) But don't put my name in your drawing. I've already been lucky enough to win a copy of this book. Someone here will be very happy. It is really nice of you to give away a copy here on your blog.

    I love this couscous, too. Your photos really are wonderful and show it off to great advantage! It looks so lovely in the blue and white dishes. Like you, I have sometimes added some fresh basil. I've also used fresh mint upon occasion. Thanks so much for sharing with us.

    ReplyDelete
  42. Hi Mari, its so nice that I find your blog, so inviting recpies and pictures make them very tempting too, I am your newset follower

    Hope you would spare a little time to take a look at me at
    http://craftaworld.blogspot.com/
    Love you to be there and let me know how you find it
    Love

    ReplyDelete
  43. I think I'm a follower... love that recipe.. so simple to have pine nuts in the mix and soooo good!!

    ReplyDelete
  44. I am a follower and a big fan of Ina's!

    colesammom@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  45. Please include me I love her books! :)

    ReplyDelete
  46. Follower and friend...and I am loving the giveaway!

    ReplyDelete
  47. Mari,

    **waving hello**. I'm now a Network Blogs Follower, a Google Blog Follower, I love ya on FB, and we are friends as well. Oh yes one more thing I'm proudly addicted to Cypress Grove Chevre Goat Cheese. {Does that count as well? ;)}

    Warmly - K

    ReplyDelete
  48. I'm a HUGE Ina fan...and am looking forward to her latest book!! I think I use her cookbooks more than any cookbooks that I have.

    It's nice to meet Ina fans!

    ReplyDelete
  49. Hello Mari...

    I'm a FB fan and a follower. Enjoying your blog and looking forward to more giveaways!

    Leigh Ann :)

    ReplyDelete
  50. I'm a follower and a Facebook follower!

    gcambra37(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  51. Hi Mari. Love your blog, your food and your pictures! Am a follower both on Google and FB and am a subscriber. Love Ina's books, her recipe and well...her!! LOL

    ReplyDelete
  52. Looks delish! I always love looking at your blog!

    ReplyDelete
  53. Great giveaway. I am a new google follower.

    ReplyDelete
  54. I'm a blog follower and an FB follower. I love Ina and can't wait to get my hands on a copy of this book.

    ReplyDelete
  55. Beauitful photos. it looks delicious. I just became a follower.Hope I win the giveaway. I am a Barefoot Contessa fan!

    ReplyDelete
  56. I would love to be in your giveaway. I am already a follower through your blog and have subscribed to the reader. Thanks for all your inspiring posts. You are amazing.

    ReplyDelete
  57. This is my first time to your blog and I've got to say it's GREAT! I would like to be included in your give away and I am now both a follower on google and fb. Thanks for all the wonderful ideas.

    Andrea
    Recipes For Divine Living

    ReplyDelete
  58. I am a google follower and friend on Facebook. I love Ina and would like the chance to win her new cookbook. I LOVE your blog!!

    ReplyDelete
  59. I am your newest follower officially, although I have been many times! I just love Ina and everything she does. I don't have any of her cookbooks and would love to win this giveaway! Count me in.

    ReplyDelete

A Sampling of my food . . .

Subscribe:

 Subscribe in a reader...or

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner