Spicy Couscous with Dates

Ingredients

• 1 cup couscous uncooked
• 0.3 cup dates chopped
• 4 large mushrooms fresh chopped
• 3 cloves garlic peeled chopped
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 
• 0.5 teaspoon ground pepper black
• 1 tablespoon juice of lemon 
• 1 tablespoon olive oil 
• 1 medium onion chopped
• 0.5  bell pepper red chopped
• 2  pasilla peppers dried diced red hot
• 2 servings salt to taste
• 2  star anise pods whole
• 1.5 cups vegetable stock 

Equipment

• sauce pan

Directions

1. Heat oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat, and saute onion until tender. Season with anise pods and salt.
2. Mix in garlic, red bell pepper, dried hot red peppers, and black pepper. Continue to cook and stir until vegetables are tender.
3. Stir mushrooms and lemon juice into the vegetable mixture.
4. Mix in dates and cinnamon, and simmer over low heat for about 10 minutes.
5. Place couscous in a medium saucepan, and cover with vegetable stock. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low. Cover, and simmer 3 to 5 minutes, until all moisture has been absorbed.
6. Fluff couscous with a fork, mix into the vegetables, and serve.