08.19.09 North African meatballs and couscous

Dinner tonight was North African meatballs from a new Food Network show called 10 Dollar Dinners. The host of the show is the winner from The Next Food Network Star, which Robert and I watched and pulled for Melissa to win, so we were excited to try one of her recipes. The meatballs get their smoky African flavor from the spices - cumin and cinnamon. I used a combination of ground sirloin and ground pork for the meatballs, and substituted capers in lieu of olives (personal preferences). Melissa had a couscous recipe on the same show, but we used a version from my friend Elizabeth James instead: one box of Near East garlic and olive oil couscous prepared according to box directions, subbing chicken stock for the water. I brought the liquids to a boil, and added the couscous with a handful of dried cranberries. (Couscous is similar to a rice). It "cooked" in 5 minutes off the heat, then I added sliced almonds, scallions and more dried cranberries.