Tabouli the "Picnic Salad"

Tabouli!

Prep: 30 minutes, Yields approximately 5 cups.

¼ cup Burghul also known as cracked wheat

1 large Tomato, about 1 cup

1 large Cucumber, also 1 cup

A quarter of White Onion, about ¼ cup

1 cup chopped fresh Parsley

A couple of good shakes of dried Mint

1/3 cup Lemon Juice

A couple good shakes of Olive Oil

½ teaspoon chopped Garlic, or one clove

1.      Wash the Burghul in a bowl, changing the water two or three times.

2.      Boil Burghul for a few minutes and set aside for 20 to 30 minutes.

3.      Finely chop all veggies place in bowl, combine with Lemon Juice and Olive Oil.

Parsley

Leaving some the skin of the Cucumber on makes the dish even more nutritional.

4.      Drain Burghul through a fine strainer, take Burghul by the handful and squeeze out excess water and add to salad mixture.

5.      Add any remaining ingredients and refrigerate until cool.

Finished Product.

While making this I realized I am much in need of a food processor ( to chop the parsley)  and a fine strainer. =[. Alas, I made it work, and it taste amazing. =]=]

 I took this recipe off the back of the bag of the Burghul (Ziyad Brand) For more ideas from this company go to http://www.ziyadrecipes.com/

Random thoughts of the day & What the hell are you making tomorrow?

Courage is the most important of all the virtues, because without courage you can't practice any other virtue consistently. You can practice any virtue erratically, but nothing consistently without courage. Maya Angelou

 

Why is it that we always go grocery shopping with a list of particular items and arrive home with the entire back seat fill with food we did not intend to purchase? I wandered my way to the fresh produce section this morning and felt like I was in heaven. Half of my minim wedged pay check has now filled my pantry and fridge. I was hungry. That is my story and I’m sticking to it. =] 

Earlier this week I stumbled upon a box of Vanilla pudding in the pantry and realized I bought it sugar free. =[ So I decided to make pudding mush with crushed Walmart Oreos with it. Let’s just say it doesn’t taste sugar free. I don’t know if that should be good or bad, and I don’t want to know what they use as a substitute. 

I am so excited to announce that I will be making Beef Empanadas, Tabouli, and Peach Empanadas tomorrow.What the hell is that you say?! Good old Webbster defines an Empanada as a turnover. Many cultures around the world make similar filled pastries, each with a different title.  The Uppers, Polish, Spanish, Middle Eastern, Italy, India. The list goes on and on. They can be filled with meat, seafood, or fruit, and are prepared fried, baked or boiled.  Tabouli, on the other hand is a Middle Eastern “picnic salad”. It consists of parsley, garlic, tomatoes, onions or green onions, cucumbers, olive oil, and burghul (cracked wheat.) I have had a 50/50 reaction to the Tabouli. I found that if you LOVE your fresh veggies, you’ll LOVE Tabouli. 

I am going to go catch some ZZZzzZZ’s for the time being. Have a good night everyone. Don’t let the bed bugs bite. Ill be sure to let you know how it all turns out tomorrow night.

The new "Hand Mixer"

It may only be a knockoff brand, but seriously I don't need the industrial one. The best part of the whole deal the mixer is it detachable!

Favorite Fast Eats

Here are two of my very favorite “Fast Eats.” Pre-warning… the two should never be consumed in the same sitting… I don’t think I could stomach knowing someone did that.

Tuna Melts for Two, or Two for You

Prep: 10 min

Cook 15 min

1 can (6oz) Tuna, drained

Mayonnaise

4 Slices of Bread, Rye is the Best =]

½ teaspoon Garlic Powder

Sour Cream

Butter

Cheese (can be American, Colby Jack, Cheddar, ect . 

And it does not necessarily need to be sliced.) 

          These are just like making a grilled cheese sandwich , only with a few extra twists. 

1.       Heat frying pan and place a little bit of Butter into the pan.

2.       Combine Tuna with the normal amount of Mayo you use in a small bowl.

3.       Add Sour Cream to taste. More Sour Cream= the more sour your melts will be. Add a Tablespoon at a time, until you like the outcome.

4.       Add Garlic Powder, mix well

5.       Butter choice bread on one side.

6.      Spread Tuna mixture on two slices, add cheese, and top with remaining bread.

7.      Toast sandwiches as if you were toasting a grilled cheese sandwich. 

Angel Hair Summer Salad with Pepperoni

Honestly, I make this every other week. God bless the BF for not getting sick of this.  I have substituted other kinds of noodles with this salad. Angel Hair has been my first choice.

Prep 20 min. Yields: 4-6 servings.

Cooked Angel Hair pasta, rinsed in cold water. 

(I generally use ¾ th to a ½ of a box)

1 Cucumber, Peeled and chopped.

1 package of sliced Pepperoni

1 can (2 ¼ oz) Black Oilves, drained

½ Cup Italian Salad Dressing

Shredded Parmesan Cheese

1.      Add all ingredients (with the exception of Parmesan Cheese) in a bowl. Toss to coat.

2.      Sprinkle Parmesan Cheese on top.

3.      Allow to cool, and enjoy. =]

The original recipe calls for a Green Pepper (1 medium, chopped). I just choose to omit it. I also believe that Yellow Bell Peppers would be amazing with it. If someone tests out my idea before I do, let me know.

Both recipes were taken out of the Taste of Home: the Busy Family Cookbook.

Its A Pizza Pie!

“Hatred paralyzes life; love releases it. Hatred confuses life; love harmonizes it. Hatred darkens life; love illuminates it.” Martin Luther King Jr

            Day One! Whoot whoot! Unfortunately, I am a bit busy this week, and unable to cook too much.  In the mean time I have decided to share a few beloved recipes.
            I have news!!! The BF surprised me last night and told me I would be receiving a “hand mixer” in the mail today! When he showed me the picture of this “hand mixer” it ended up being an off brand KITCHEN AID! No hands required. You guys have NO idea how excited I am! =]=]


           Everybody loves pizza pie right?! Here are some recipes that were not too time consuming and maybe a bit healthier for you then ordering out. I want to make this with the girls one night. I think they would get a kick out watching how everything is put together.

Pie Dough

3 Cups of All Purpose Flour

1 Package of Active Dry Yest

2 Tablespoons Oil

1 teaspoon Salt

1 Tablespoon White Sugar

1 Cup warm Water at 110 deg

(I just put it in the mic on high for two mins =])

1.      Mix all dry ingredients together in a medium to large sized mixing bowl.

2.      Heat Water.

3.      Add liquids, and mix.

4.      Spread on to baking pan. There is no need for it to sit and rise.

*Side note* My first (and only) attempt at creating dough I thought I could mix it like any other dough…. By hand… WRONG! It becomes very sticky, clumpy and did not want to stay together very well at first. I am going to try our new “hand mixer” next time. =] Also I found it to be a little difficult to spread it. I have yet to purchase a rolling pin. So my next attempt after the “hand mixer” I was going to flour a surface and roll out the dough with a wine bottle.

Red Sauce

            This recipe made a bit too much sauce. Unless you want to have double sauce or dipping sauce to save for another time don’t use the entire can of tomato sauce. Take it from me, I make pizza for a living. The sauce is not supposed to be runny, or too thick. There is supposed to be a happy medium.

1 (15 oz) Tomato Sauce – I advise not to use the entire can.

1 (6oz) Tomato Paste

1 Tablespoon Italian Seasonings.- Mine is from Family Dollar.

1 and ½ teaspoons Garlic Powder

 1 teaspoon Paprika

1.      Mix all ingredients together in a mixing bowl.

2.      Spread on to homemade dough.

For the rest of the pizza add an entire bag (16 oz which is 2 cups, or more.) of Mozzarella Cheese.

Top Pizza as desired and bake at 375 until cheese becomes bubbly and slightly browned. Appx 20-30 Mins

I discovered these recipes at allrecipes.com

Pizza Dough I by Gudny Bjorg Kjaerbo

Easy Pizza Sauce III by Brent