Sweet Orange Couscous With Apricot And Dates

• 3 cups water, divided
• 3 tablespoons sugar
• 3 tablespoons honey
• 32 dried apricot halves (about 5 1/2 ounces)
• 2 1/2 teaspoons grated orange rind
• 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
• 1 (3 inch) cinnamon sticks
• 1 cardamom pod (optional)
• 1/3 cup fresh orange juice
• 2 tablespoons chopped pitted dates
• 1/2 cup uncooked couscous
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons chopped of fresh mint

1. Combine 2 cups water, sugar, and honey in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil. Stir in apricots, rind, lemon juice, cinnamon, and cardamom, if desired. Reduce heat, and simmer 25 minutes. Cool. Remove apricots with a slotted spoon; set aside. Strain syrup through a sieve into a large bowl; discard solids. Add orange juice and dates to syrup; cover and chill.
2. Bring 1 cup water to a boil in pan; gradually stir in couscous and salt. Remove from heat; cover and let stand 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork. Cool completely. Spoon 1/2 cup couscous into each of 4 bowls. Arrange 8 apricot halves over couscous; sprinkle with 1 1/2 teaspoons mint. Spoon 1/2 cup syrup over each serving.

water, sugar, honey, apricot, orange rind, lemon juice, cinnamon sticks, cardamom, orange juice, dates, couscous, salt, mint

Taken from www.food.com/recipe/sweet-orange-couscous-with-apricot-and-dates-451970 (may not work)