Last night's dinner was somewhat similar to this creation I attempted over a year ago: http://lycheesilk.blogspot.com/2010/05/chickpeas-butternut-squash-and-spinach.html

The ingredients this time?

• Half a bag of Trader Joe's Harvest Grains Blend (mostly cous-cous, sprinkled with some orzo pasta, baby garbanzo beans and red quinoa) 
• 1 can of garbanzo beans
• chopped celery
• diced tomatoes

I cooked the cous-cous separately from the veggies, and once everything was cooked, threw it all in together and mixed. Turned out delicious! I used those Trader Joe's chicken broth gel packets, but because I wound up having to keep adding water to the cous-cous as it cooked, it diluted the brothy flavor. Also added some salt and butter. A healthy sprinkling of seasoned pepper really brought out the flavor!

Some lessons learned for next time:
1. More broth-- perhaps instead of adding water I can use the vegetable broth made from cooking the fresh veggies (instead of draining the water from the veggie pot!)
2. Spinach would have been great!
3. Try substituting some of the water for milk, for a creamier texture and flavor.

Total cost:

1 can garbanzo beans = 99 cents
1/2 bag of Harvest Grains Blend (@ $2.69 per bag) = $1.35
2 stalks of celery (from a 1-lb, $1 celery package) = 25 cents
2 Roma tomatoes = ~75 cents

Grand total = $3.34 for dinner for 3!