Salads with thyme

12 ounces pasta (cork-screw shaped) 1/2 cup milk 12 ounces lean bacon 3 medium tomatoes , cut into chunks 1 tablespoon fresh thyme , chopped 1 garlic clove ,[...]

2 x Idaho baking potatoes , like russets peeled, sliced     into 12 pcs about 1/2"-thk, and     punched out with round cookie cutter 3 sm purple baking[...]

1 cup whole wheat cous cous 10 carrots , peeled and cut in half and then into quarters 1 avocado , sliced 4 oranges 2 lemons ¼ cup cilantro leaves 3 garlic[...]