Couscous Pudding With Caramelized Pecans Food

COUSCOUS PUDDING WITH CARAMELIZED PECANS

Steps:

• Bring water to a boil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Stir in couscous and salt. Remove from heat, cover, and let stand until water is absorbed, about 5 minutes.
• Stir milk and 1/4 cup sugar into the couscous; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low; cook and stir until mixture is slightly thickened, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat and whisk in eggs. Return to stovetop and continue cooking, stirring frequently, until pudding is creamy, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract.
• Let pudding cool to room temperature, stirring occasionally, about 30 minutes. Spoon into a bowl, cover loosely with plastic wrap and chill until set, at least 1 hour.
• Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Add pecans and 1/2 cup white sugar. Cook, stirring frequently, until pecans are coated and caramel thickens, about 5 minutes. Serve pecans and caramel sauce on top or alongside the pudding.

COUSCOUS PUDDING

Steps:

• In a medium sided bowl, beat together the egg, egg white, and 2 Tbs of the sugar.
• In a medium sized saucepan, combine the milk, the remaining 2 Tbs sugar, orange rind, and salt and bring to a simmer over moderate heat.
• Slowly pour the warmed milk into the egg mixture, whisking constantly.
• Return the mixture to the saucepan and cook over moderate heat, stirring constantly for 4 minutes or until thickened.
• Add the couscous and cook, stirring constantly, 6 minutes more.
• Remove from the heat, cover and let stand for 6 minutes or until the couscous is tender.
• Stir in the raisins, nuts and vanilla.
• Serve warm or at room temperature.

CHERRY COUSCOUS PUDDING

Steps:

• Bring 1 cup each skim milk and almond milk, 1/4 cup sugar, 1/4 teaspoon almond extract and a pinch of salt to a boil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add 3/4 cup whole-wheat couscous, 1/2 cup dried cherries and 1 cinnamon stick; cover and cook 2 minutes. Remove from the heat and let sit, covered, 8 minutes. Fluff with a fork, remove the cinnamon stick and divide among bowls. Top with toasted sliced almonds and honey, if desired.
• Serves: 4 (does not include the optional garnish); Calories: 263; Total Fat 1 grams; Saturated Fat: 0 grams; Protein: 8 grams; Total carbohydrates: 58 grams; Sugar: 28 grams Fiber: 5 grams; Cholesterol: 1 milligrams; Sodium: 136 milligrams

CARAMELIZED MILK PUDDING WITH PECANS

Steps:

• Cook and stir sugar and water in saucepan on medium heat 5 min. or until sugar is dissolved.
• Whisk Neufchatel with 3 Tbsp. milk until smooth; set aside. Whisk remaining milk and cornstarch in medium saucepan until cornstarch is dissolved. Stir in Neufchatel mixture; cook on medium heat 10 min. or until thickened, stirring constantly. Add sugar mixture; cook 5 min., stirring constantly. Stir in nuts; cook and stir 5 min. Pour into serving bowl; cover with plastic wrap, pressing wrap directly onto surface of pudding. Refrigerate 3 hours or until completely cooled.
• Top with COOL WHIP just before serving.

SPICED CARAMELIZED PECANS

Steps:

• In a deep-fryer or a deep pot, heat the oil to 350 degrees. (A deep-frying thermometer can be clipped to the side of the pan so that you can tell when the proper temperature has been reached).
• Meanwhile, in a large saucepan bring 2 quarts of water to a boil. Add the pecans and boil for 2 minutes. Drain in a large strainer, shaking off all excess water. Sprinkle the salt and cayenne pepper over the nuts and then coat with the confectioners' sugar, a little at a time, allowing the sugar to melt into the pecans. Toss the nuts by shaking the strainer, adding a little more sugar each time, until all the sugar is used and all the nuts are coated. Do not use hands or a spoon to toss. The nuts should have a glaze of sugar.
• Carefully add the nuts to the heated oil, keeping the oil at 350 degrees F. Cook until golden brown, about 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove with a slotted spoon to a baking tray to cool.

STOVETOP CARAMELIZED PECANS

Steps:

• In a nonstick skillet over medium high heat, melt together brown sugar and water until rapidly bubbling. Add pecans, stirring thoroughly to coat. Cook, stirring, for 3-4 minutes, until fragrant and most of the liquid has evaporated. (But not so long at the sugars burn.)
• Spread pecans into a single layer onto a parchment-lined baking sheet, and use a fork to separate them. Let stand at room temperature for about an hour, until fully cooled, set, and dry. (Pecans will be only very slightly tacky to the touch.)
• Break apart any pecan clusters and store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week, in the refrigerator for a couple of weeks, or in the freezer for up to 2 months.