This Easiest Ever Tabouli recipe is a healthy and simple make-ahead dish the whole family will love. It's full of fresh ingredients and great flavor and is perfect with tortilla chips as an appetizer or served as a side dish or salad with a meal.
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We're at a new place in our parenting life and it's fun and exciting and little bit scary. For some parents this place comes much earlier, but we're here now. The play date place.
We are among the first of our good friends to start having babies. And while they're all extremely understanding and supportive, there aren't a lot of little ones for our girls to play with in our inner circle, save for a few people.
Now with kids T's age (one) that's not a huge deal. She's hasn't truly begun to socialize the way an older toddler does. But A is at an age where she is beginning to form relationships with other kids. She'll come home from daycare talking about various friends and how much she loves them.
We want to make sure our girls have a good balance of time with family while still cultivating their relationships with friends outside of our inner circle.
At parent-teacher conferences last year, we talked a little bit with A's teachers (who are amazing with giving advice on these things- apparently we're not the only parents trying to figure it all out!). We joked that it was kind of like that good old, middleschool style of dating. As if we should be leaving the other parents a note saying "do you want to have a play date? Yes, no, maybe: circle one."
But it wasn't until very recently that we finally started actively trying to make these play dates happen (life is busy!). It was kick started when another little girl invited A to her family birthday party.
I won't lie, I was a nervous wreck. Not so much for the girls, because they're pretty adaptable. But in many ways I'm an introvert and the prospect of trying to form new relationships with other parents can be intimidating, especially considering the Mommy Wars that run rampant these days and that fact that I'm not always the easiest person to be around.
But we agreed that it was a great idea for A to spend more time with her friends and also a great idea for us to make friends with other parents who are in our stage of life. And the party ended up being a great time! Even better, this little girl's mom turned out to be even nicer than I expected, and someone I would totally want to be friends with (and am becoming friends with).
This kick-started our attempts to hang with more of other daycare families. As it turns out we're all in the same boat in terms of trying to navigate these waters with out little ones.
The night before a play date with a new family, I still get a little nervous. It's kind of like a first date- will they like us? Will we like them? Will my kid throw a tantrum and they think that our parenting skills suck?
But each time, I leave these play dates feeling so happy to have connected with other parents and getting to see A and T have a blast with their friends. We're all right in the thick of it and it feels great to connect with other people who are living this experience. And the other parents have all been super nice!
Did I ever mention that in addition to coming from a family full of excellent cooks, I was also fortunate enough to join a family with many great cooks? Well I did and it's awesome!
My mother in-law Vicky makes the most incredible and easiest ever Tabouli. I was introduced to this recipe when we were preparing to throw my sister in-law her bridal shower.
Not only is it really quick and easy to make, but the recipe is made to be prepared the night before, which makes it a perfect dish to bring to parties or just to make ahead in general. And when I say easy, I mean that the majority of the work involves putting items into your food processor
. Rough, I know.
Vicky's Tabouli is always a favorite at every party that I bring it to. To the point that I get requests for it frequently. It's light and fresh with bright lemon notes. Fresh parsley and green onions give a nice flavor without dominating the overall taste. And the tomatoes and cucumbers add extra goodness!
This can be served as a side dish or an appetizer. It's great on it's own and even better with tortilla chips. Once you make this, it will definitely fall into your rotation and become an instant family favorite!
Other great party food includes:
- The Most Delicious Guacamole Ever
- Deviled Eggs
- Vicky’s Tabouli
- Summer Berry Dessert Crostini
- BLT Bruschetta
- Roasted Corn Salsa
- Bloody Mary Cheeseball
- Artichoke Asiago Dip
- 7 Layer Taco Salad
- Pea Pesto Flatbread with Asparagus and Shaved Pecorino Romano
- Summer Berry and Burrata Salad
- Broccoli Rabe and Ricotta Crostini
Vicky’s Easiest Ever Tabouli
Ingredients
- 1 cucumber
- 1 pound tomatoes remove the seeds
- 2 bunches green onions use the green parts only
- 1 cup parsley
- 1 ½ tsp. salt
- 1 ½ tsp. pepper
- ½ cup lemon juice
- ½ cup olive oil
- 1 cup dry couscous
Instructions
- Take each vegetable and chop them separately in the food processor, placing each into a mixing bowl once they're chopped.
- Add the last 5 ingredients to the bowl and mix well.
- Refrigerate overnight, stirring one in a while.
- Serve with tortilla or pita chips or on it's own as a side dish.
- Enjoy!
Notes
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