COUSCOUS IS AS EASY AS BOILING WATER BY ALICIA ROSS, WITH BEVERLY MILLS UNITED FEATURE SYNDICATE.(LIFE & LEISURE)(Recipe)

Six years ago I'd never even heard of couscous. Now it's always on my pantry shelf.

Just dump it in a saucepan of boiling water for five minutes, and you've got perfect couscous. It's easier than steaming rice.

In its traditional form, couscous (rhymes with goose-goose) is a staple of North Africa. The couscous we find on our grocery-store shelves is a precooked version of semolina, the creamy yellow portion of wheat that pasta is made from. Look for couscous on the aisle with the rice (the most widely available brand is called Near East) or in the international-foods section.

Couscous has a slightly nutty flavor and is a terrific alternative to …