Bil Zbib Recipe by Paula Wolfert

(photo of Bil Zbib from Saveur magazine. "roll your own" was chosen one of their "100 best things to do")

Bil Zbib is a sweet couscous dish eaten for breakfast or dessert in North Africa.

1 cup golden raisins

4 cups steamed couscous

6 tablespoons butter

3 tablespoons sugar

Cinnamon

Confectioners' sugar

1.  Soak the raisins in hot water for 10 minutes, then drain.

2.  Thirty minutes before serving, bring water back to the boil. Return the couscous to the colander or top container and steam uncovered. Spread drained raisins and butter over the steaming couscous and steam 15 minutes.

3.  Dump couscous onto a wide shallow serving dish and toss with the drained raisins, butter, cinnamon and granulated sugar. Gently fluff the couscous; pile in a mound, decorate with lines of cinnamon and dust the top with confectioners' sugar. Serve warm or cool.