Make this incredible Lebanese bowl featuring Tabbouleh, hummus, falafels & so much more.
Let’s be clear. Blogs are blogs. Power Point Presentations are not. According to my more seriously-minded techie pals, PPP are something else entirely. They are more, well, seriously minded. Humph!
After watching a PPP listing ten potential benefits of them, we seemed almost on the same page. I especially honed in on (1) Broadening visual impact; (2) Improving audience focus; (7) & (8) Building Spontaneity & Interactivity and (10) Increasing Wonder.
Traditionally Lebanese Tabbouleh is a green herbal salad with a touch of spices and a dollop of grains.
Call me crazy but I think it’s all about those Bullet Points. This week’s post screams for bullet points, emoji style. So let’s do it. Give it a read… seriously.
👩🍳 GRAND RAPIDS was GRAND
Shortly before Thanksgiving, as usual, I bid farewell to Colorado. While it’s a 650-mile drive through Utah and Arizona to Henderson, Nevada, where I’ll be for the holidays, it’s no chore. The iconic landscapes of sandstone buttes, arches and mesas visible throughout my drive are gloriously breathtaking.
In 1976 I was in Kansas City for the Republican Convention when Gerald Ford was nominated. That’s why I saved his library for last. As you can see, I am on the floor of the Convention and rather awestruck by Dan Rather.
After arriving in Henderson, I grabbed my bag, boarded an Allegiant jet and flew to Michigan. Where. It. Was. Snowing. Gerald Ford’s Presidential Library is located in Grand Rapids. His was the last of the thirteen libraries administered by the National Archives for me to visit. It’s been a five-year project which has taken me and friends accompanying me to California, Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas, Texas, New York, Massachusetts and Michigan. (Hoover. West Branch, Iowa 1962.)
This statue is at the Ford library entrance.
Suffice it to say, it was thrilling to visit Ford’s museum, not only to reach my goal but also because in 1976 I attended the Republican Convention in Kansas City when he was nominated. Even better, the Library’s staff supervisor and her cohorts were excited for me.
I’d filled out all the appropriate forms and we’re just getting ready to put the last Presidential Library stamp in my Passport Booklet.
I am the 75th person to visit all 13 libraries. There were gifts, an engraved crystal paperweight with a commendation to follow from the Archives. Who knew? Next stop: Chicago, 2020
This is the stairway ladder to the rooftop of the U.S. Embassy in Saigon which enabled 978 Americans and 1,120 Vietnamese to board helicopters and escape to American ships waiting offshore on April 29/30, 1975.
👩🍳 EYE SPY the INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION
The small white dot you see below is the 360’ International Space Station that was launched in 1998. Since Year 2000, 230 astronauts have flown in this habitable artificial satellite. Only the moon and Venus are brighter in the night sky. NASA has a free App, Spot the Station, showing when it will pass over your location.
During the Thanksgiving holidays, in Bishop with my family, we saw a video of the three ISS astronauts wishing Americans “Happy Thanksgiving.” So our family (three generations) was ready, willing and looking to return those wishes when the ISS flew over at 6:04 pm last Friday evening.
Melissa spotted it first. Sounds crazy but we hollered and waved. In 1961 I remember Alan Shepherd being the first American to fly into space. He flew 116 miles high before safely returning to earth. The flight lasted 15 ½ minutes. I can only imagine what Clara and Emma will see during their lifetimes. Thanks, Jane Carey, for introducing us to this App.
👩🍳 TABBOULEH & the INCREDIBLE LEBANESE BOWL
David Lebovitz’s idea of Tabbouleh is a ‘bowl heaped with fresh herbs, a few tomato chunks, and very, very few bits of bulgur (cracked wheat.)’ He’s borrowed this recipe, our CooktheBookFridays choice this week, from highly acclaimed Lebanese chef Anissa Helou. David claims it’s not only authentic but highly addictive. I agree. Recipe below.
I substituted 1/2 cup cooked Quinoa instead of bulgar to make it gluten-free. Click this Link for the many ways to serve or enhance Tabbouleh. Using inspiration provided by the Minimalist Baker, I created this Incredible Lebanese Bowl.
My friend, Dipika Rai, makes the most delicious falafels. To be honest, every delicacy she makes is delicious. We haven’t yet made falafels together so I improvised.
Sometimes it’s all about the box, the box, the box. Of the two, I prefer Knorr.
TABBOULEH by Anissa Helou, from A Paris Kitchen cookbook
Serves 8-10
(TIP: This is a large amount of Tabbouleh. I halved the recipe and adjusted the other ingredients to my taste. Even so, I added a 1/2 to 2/3 cup of Quinoa, more than the recipe specified.)
INGREDIENTS:
1/3 – 1/2 cup of fine bulgur (I used Quinoa but any grain will work))
3 medium firm ripe tomatoes, diced into small cubes
2 spring onions or scallions, trimmed and very thinly sliced
14 ounces flat-leaf parsley, most of the stalks discarded, leaves washed and dried
2 cups mint leaves, washed and dried, no stems
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
1/4 teaspoon finely ground black pepper
salt to taste
juice of 1 lemon, or to taste
1/3 to 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
DIRECTIONS:
1. Using a grain of your choice, prepare it according to its directions.
2. Put the diced tomatoes in a bowl to drain and set aside while you prepare the herbs.
3. Using a sharp knife, grab as much of the prepped parsley and mint as you can handle in a bunch, and slice them very thin, to end up with nice, crisp slender strips.
4. After draining the tomatoes of their juice, put in a large bowl. Add the spring onion or scallions and herbs.
4. Sprinkle the bulgur all over. Season with the cinnamon, allspice and pepper. Add salt to taste.
5. Add the lemon juice and olive oil and mix well. Taste and adjust the seasonings (you may need more) if necessary.
6. Serve immediately. (I ate this salad for 3 days. Of course, “immediately” is the best.)
Over the holidays we enjoyed the company of 9-10 Wood Ducks at Stephen & Melissa’s pond. They are among the most stunningly beautiful of all waterfowl. They are also very secretive and skittish. We kept a low profile so they would hang around. They did. Two males and one female (L).
I hope you had a grand Thanksgiving, my friend! You made your tabbouleh exactly how I like it—with quinoa!
P.S. LOVE the photo of you with Dan Rather. What a treasure. And think of stopping in Indy when you travel to Chicago in a couple years!
Have a wonderful Holiday season. We are back in SMA for the winter. Can’t wait to see you this spring/summer to share our latest winter adventures with each other. Be well! Amy
.Inquiring minds want to know … it looks like both you and Dan were flirting . You clearly are a great looking couple.
I loved your cute bullet points. I realize now that my bullet points should be emojis.
So glad you had such a wonderful time with your family. I love your family. And they have a pond. Even better.
great pix of Dipita. I hear her cooking is
legend . Note to self … get invited to one of her dinner parties.
yummy recipes too. Will consider using
quinoa. Did not know it was GF.
I was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Thailand during the Vietnam Nam pullout and a lot of the rescued people came through there.
I also remember watching the first space flight at elementary school on a black and white TV with the whole school watching the one TV.
Thanks for sharing that, Debbie.
Mary!!
Such an amazing post. 75th person to have completed the entire circuit in a country the size of USofA, wow just wow!
All the activities and what you have going on in your life. Wonderful!
Your Lebanese bowl does look incredible. From the picture, now I know the way the lettuce are supposed to be used to hold falafels or tabbouleh. Another incredible thing is being the very few who completed visiting all the Presidential libraries. Congratulations. You’re a force!
First, thank you for finding that Lebanese bowl because it was really delicious for our dinner! 🙂
Second, I love that photo of you and Dan Rather!! How exciting and also how exciting to be the 75th person to visit all the presidential libraries. What’s your next project?!?!? Haha, but really, I hope you’re basking in that accomplishment.
Finally, I can totally picture you all shouting at the ISS as it travels overhead. Fun, kooky thanksgiving!
I’m sitting here typing comments before lunch and came across the first photo in your post. I could dig right into that plate of delicious looking goodies. It all goes so well together and I would probably enjoy the tabbouleh better.
I’m behind and just catching up, though I feel like already read this post when you published and commented on it. Maybe I only read it as I don’t see any comments from me.
This is perfect with falafel. I ate it on its own which was probably not the ideal pairing. Though I did like it. The seasonings are the same one Kathy V. used in hers.
Humm, do I see sparks flying between you and Dan Rather? Gary and I also use the app to track the International Space Station then run outside to wave furiously and shout good wishes to the crew:) Your tabbouleh looks delicious! We like falafels but have never tried making them. I did not know about the Passport program for the Presidential Libraries. I’ve been to three of them, Clinton and G.W. Bush and Johnson, but didn’t know to have my Passport stamped. I hope you have a very merry Christmas and happy New Year Mary!