Personally, I love nap time. Is there anything better than an afternoon nap on a chilly Saturday afternoon with a heavy blanket, a lightly cracked window and the warmth of Kitten Lounge’s Editor-in-Chief? The answer is no. The problem is that most of our weekend naps usually follow a heavy meal full of the deadliest combination of carbs and protein; in other words, meat and potatoes. The problem is that our bodies have an extremely difficult time digesting such combinations. But, don’t worry help is on the way. Instead of pasta, rice or potatoes a textbook side dish to any protein is taboule (pronounced: tuh-boo-lee).

Taboule is a traditional Middle Eastern wheat salad and is prepared best with The Roots blasting in the background, accompanying the company of the delicious and the healthy. The brain, the source, the transistor radio transmitting the message from the messenger – healthy body equals healthy mind.

So, here is the recipe:

2 cups 100% Whole grain quick cooking Bulgur Wheat

1 ¾ Cups of Boiling Water

3 Cucumbers

3 Black Tomatoes

1 Medium Onion

Dill, Cilantro and Parsley

1 Small head of Garlic

2 Cups of Raisins

Freshly squeezed juice from one Lemon

1 Jalapeno Pepper

Olive Oil

Salt & Pepper

The preparation is simple. Combine 2 cups of bulgur wheat with 1 ¾ cups of boiling water and let it sit for about 10 minutes. Chop the rest of the ingredients, combine with the wheat and season with olive oil, salt and pepper to your taste.

The beauty of taboule is that you can add pretty much any ingredients; from kiwis to mangos. If you are new to cooking, one important note is to make sure to purge the herbs in cold water to get rid of all the sand before chopping. And if your delicious taboule is being accompanied with a piece of delectable fish, I would suggest pairing your dinner with a bottle of La Playa’s Sauvignon Blanc.