Veggie Kate

I have a confession: I did not invent this recipe.

But I forget where I first saw it!  And when I do Google searches, I find many, many varieties and re-creations, so I do not know where to give credit.  If you swear this is your brain child, let me know and I can link ya!

For Christmas, most people may ask for books, games, clothes… me?  I’m weird.  I asked for hemp seeds.

Why?  Well, first off, no one sells them here in Saipan.  Second, they are amazing little buggers, full of beautifying health!  They are a complete protein, good for fueling muscles; they are rich in omega-3′s for brain and joint health; and wonderful minerals for healthy skin and hair.  They’re soft and tasty, easy to digest, and just have a darn fun texture!

So, my wonderful mom sent me a pack for Christmas   Thanks mom!!! Much love!!

And I saved them until I could find the ingredients I needed for the salad I had been craving for months!

Parsley Tabbouleh Salad
1 cup parsley, chopped into small pieces
2 small tomatoes
2 Tbs chopped onion
2 cloves minced garlic
juice of 1/2 a lemon
1 Tbs olive oil
2-3 Tbs hemp seed
dash of sea salt

A note – these amounts are all kind of guesstimates.  It really depends what flavors you like most — parsley can be a strong flavor, so I used to use only a small amount, and heap on the hemp!  But, since I am savoring my precious hemp seeds like a cat guarding catnip, I went with a larger bunch of parsley and less of the hemp.  (Plus, parsley is a rarity here, and it was already starting to die when I bought it, so I had to use it all!)  Then add more or less of all the other items, depending on your flavor preferences.

1. Chop up the parsley.  I like my parsley pieces cut small.

2. Mince up the garlic and onion, and sprinkle on top

3. Dice the tomatoes, and add.

4. And finally, sprinkle with as many or few hemp seeds as you like; squeeze on the lemon, drizzle on the oil, dash on the salt, and get ready to eat!

Ta-da!

Fast, simple, incredibly healthy, and fairly cheap (if you have hemp seeds available, and don’t go overboard with them!)

I hope you don’t think of parsley as no more than a fancy garnish!  A mere two tablespoons will provide you with over 100% of your daily need for Vitamin K! Because of some of its volatile oils, parsley has been labeled a “chemoprotective” food – meaning it can help inhibit tumor growth from various dangerous carcinogens.
This gorgeous green is also a potent antioxidant, helping keep your inner body from “rusting,” so to speak; rich in folic acid for heart health; and has some of the lovely vitamin C for your immune system!

Here’s to good healthy!