A New Year...A New Chance...Plus Some International Foods

The end of the year is drawing near and unlike the normal New Year's Resolutions that people make year after year that they never accomplish, I decided to switch up my list a little this year. Making a list of things that I want to do...mixed with things I need to do. In 2010 I plan to:

1. Go White Water Rafting: This I can pull this off with a 3 hour drive to Gatlinburg and I have always wanted to do it, so this year it is a goal of mine.
2. Finish Testing out of classes: I can test out of 6 classes, so I would like to accomplish that this year...as well as complete all of the Praxis exams...but if I just get the 6 done I will be happy.
3. Complete Project International Dish: Now having read Julie and Julia...if she can do 524 recipes in 365 days than I can surely handle 192...actually less since I have already started.
4. Get Married! I know...I know...but I swear that it WILL happen this year. It will most likely be an elopement but it WILL be this year!
5. Take a REAL vacation: Every year since 2003 I have spent my vacation time visiting family. This year I vow to go somewhere without family (except Marc of course) or our dogs...even if it's just a long weekend.
   
6. Plant a Vegetable Garden: I have wanted to do this for a few years now...and 2010 will be the year it happens!
7. Volunteer: I promise to give at least two days (though it will probably be more) to Habitat for Humanity or another Charity. I want to give as much time as possible, but I do tend to overextend myself so I am not promising more that I know I can safely commit to.
   
8. Go Camping: I know this one is sort of lame, but I have never been camping. At least not tent and sleeping bag camping...and with all of the great camp sites around here...I need to do it. Maybe this can even be tied into our white water rafting trip!
   
9. Run a 1/2 Marathon (or 2 5k's): I am very eager to join the world of runners. I would run the Music City Marathon this year, but I already have plans to be MOH at my cousins wedding on that day. This is the only reason I am a little relaxed with this one goal.
10. ORGANIZE! I am by nature a pretty organized person...plus with my incredible memory it is not often that I am left scrambling to find something, but for the sake of order and Marc's sanity I want to make sure everything has a place.

In a rush to catch up from the holidays and get a little ahead before school starts back on the 5th, I completed two countries this past week. Syria and Greece! The following are the two recipes:
Syria

I had always believed that Tabbouleh (each country spells it differently) was a Greek dish, but it is the National Dish of Syria. Tabbouleh is a wheat, cucumber and tomato salad that it very delicious. I have had it many times before, but have never made it myself. There are "mixes" that you can purchase at your local grocery to make tabbouleh, but they will not hold a candle to tabbouleh made from scratch. I look forward to the summer when tomatoes and cucumbers are in full bloom and I can get some amazing specimens out of my own garden or from the farmers market. This is a REAL summer food.

TABBOULEH

• 1 cup bulgar wheat (This will be difficult to find, I had to get mine from the International Market. Above is a picture of the box. The company Ziyad makes many of the staples I need for middle eastern cuisine.)
• 3 Tomatoes seeded and chopped
• 2 Cucumbers peeled and chopped
• 3 green onions chopped
• 3 cloves garlic minced
  
• 1 cup chopped fresh parsley
• 1/3 cup fresh mint leaves (i used dry...it doesn't change the flavor much)
• 2 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup lemon juice
• 2/3 cup olive oil

Method

Boil two cups of water.
Once boiling pour over the 1 cup of bulgar and let sit for 30 minutes.

Once the thirty minutes is up, drain the bulgar and squeeze any excess water.

In a mixing bowl combine the bulgar and all of the ingredients listed above. Stirring well.


Let sit in the fridge AT LEAST 4 hours before serving. Over night is best. Stir again prior to serving. Use a slotted spoon to serve to prevent the extra juice/oil from getting on the plate.

This Tabbouleh was delicious. You could taste everything in layers. First the wheat, cucumbers and tomatoes...then the lemon...and finally the mint. I highly recommend this dish!



GREECE

In a way of catching up from the holidays I did two recipes at the same time. While there are far better meals to come out of Greece that this soup, this was the meal listed as their national dish. While I enjoyed it i could find many areas in which it could be improved upon. More beans and far more spices (especially garlic) are needed to make this soup shine. Below is the recipe I used and it creates a good base, but add spices per your taste.

And while we are on the subject of Greece I would like to say that I REALLY REALLY want to go! So maybe I can cross off goal #5 this year with a trip to Greece!

FASOLADA

• 1 cup haricot or navy beans
• 3 cups water
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, chopped
• 2 carrots, peeled and chopped
• 2 celery stalks, peeled and chopped
• 1 cup canned, crushed or diced tomatoes
• 1 tablespoon tomato paste
• 3 vegetable stock cubes
• 1 teaspoon oregano
• ¼ cup fresh, chopped parsley
• Salt and pepper to taste
  

Method

Soak beans in three cups water overnight (at least eight hours). In the morning drain and put them in a crock pot with the onion, garlic, carrots, and celery, tomatoes, tomato paste, vegetable stock cubes, oregano, salt, and pepper. Simmer on low heat an additional cook on low for 4 to 6 hours or until the beans are tender. Add chopped parsley just before serving.


It was recommended to me by my Greek friend Harry to eat this soup with Italian bread. Like I said before this is a nice vegetable soup base and can be a great comfort food, I just felt that it needed more of a kick.

I wish all of you a great and happy New Year! May 2010 be the year that all of your dreams come true.