Quinoa Tabbouleh

We both went to the dollar theater yesterday.  $1.50 each.  It sounds like a steal, but they are really pushing the boundaries of "dollar", singular, theater.  I shouldn't complain about 3 bucks though.  Can't buy much for 3 bucks these days.  Not even a gallon of gas.  I don't buy popcorn at the dollar theater...that would demolish the joy of getting a good deal.  I smuggle in my own ziploc bag full of chevro and store-bought candy box.  Yup.  I'm that shameless lady.  3 for $3 candy at Walgreens beats 1 for $4 at the movies.  For a dollar, I can bring two extra guys in with me.  Mike & Ike.  All of us at the movies. For under 5 bucks.  Oh and I bring all my kids.  Sour Patch.

In fact the Sour Patch variety is all you should be bringing to most movies.  We watched The Hunger Games and might I suggest that if your child is covering their eyes and ears in the movie, they are too young to see it.  This seems to be a widespread problem among other movies too.  If you have to explain that Mike is not a Magician, that's a problem.

Then in the middle of the movie, I had to go to the bathroom.  I mean, I had to get up to go to the facilities.  (I didn't urinate in my seat, as some of you might have concluded).  While walking up the aisle, there were two little girls playing with their tonka trucks in the aisle.  Okay, parent, you get 1 brownie point for cross-pollenating stereotypical gender toys.  You get minus 86 brownie points for allowing your children to morph into Olympic hurdles for the rest of us.  I would have tripped over them had the current movie scene not been a daylight scene to illuminate their silhouettes.  The urgency to pee allowed me to get a good running start in order for my 36 inseam legs to actually leap across successfully.

And on that appetizing note of peeing, here's a recipe for Tabbouleh.

Quinoa Tabbouleh

by rabbitfoodrocks

(Serves 4)

Quinoa Tabboleh (KEEN-wah   ta-BOO-lee) is a very easy and healthy high-protein recipe.  Makes a perfect complement to a hummus or baba ganoush plate and some grillled seasoned vegetables.   It also pairs well with my Spanakopita pockets!

Ingredients:

2/3 cups quinoa
2 teaspoons canola or olive oil
3 scallions, thinly sliced (including both white and green parts)
1/2 cup of quartered cherry tomatoes
1/2 cup of chopped parsley (Italian flat-leaf OR curly variety)
2 Tablespoons of chopped mint
2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
freshly squeezed juice of 1/2 small lemon
Salt & Pepper to taste

Directions:

1.  In a small non-stick pot, heat 2 teaspoons of canola oil on medium-high heat.  Add quinoa to the pot and mix well, making sure quinoa is well-coated in the oil (shiny and new looking!), stirring frequently for 2-3 minutes. 
2.  Pour 1-1/3 cups water in the pot and bring to a boil.  Then, lower heat, cover, and cook over low until water is completely absorbed.  Remove from heat.
3.  Allow quinoa to cool completely in a mixing bowl.  Add scallions, tomatoes, parsley, mint, olive oil, lemon juice, and salt and pepper.  Mix well and serve.