While I've eaten couscous many times before, I never realized how easy and quick it is to cook until I cooked it today. It’s the time it takes to boil the water plus 5 minutes. Perfect staple for the busy graduate students.

Here is a recipe I used (from Rice Select:

• 1 cup uncooked Couscous
• 1 ¼ cups water
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon butter or margarine

In saucepan bring water, salt and butter to a boil. Add Couscous, stir quickly. Remove from heat and cover. Let stand for 4-5 minutes. Fluff with a fork before serving.

Note that the recipe says that you should remove the pot from heat once you add couscous, and this is in fact what it means.