Chicken tabbouleh

A light, summery bulgur wheat dish

Perfect for a healthy lunch (can prepare the night before and eat cold the next day) or for a light dinner.

My version is not spicy as I am not a big fan of spicy food but feel free to cook the chicken with spices. Since the onion is raw, prepare for strong flavours but they work so well together and this dish tastes deliciously fresh and nutritious!

This will be perfect at barbecues or picnics in the summer time but it's okay to start a little early!

Serves 2

- 2 chicken breasts, chopped
- olive oil
- 1 garlic clove, crushed
- paprika
- 1 red onion, finely chopped
- 2 large tomatoes, chopped
- 1/2 cucumber, chopped
- 100g bulgar wheat
- lemon juice
- fresh mint, torn (I didn't have any but I would recommend)
- fresh parsley, chopped

1. Pre-heat the oven to 180 degrees, then in a small roasting tin, brush the chicken with olive oil, and coat in the garlic and as much paprika as you would like, as season. Cover with foil and cook in the oven for about 20 minutes.

2. Place the chopped onion, tomatoes and cucumber into a large bowl and set aside.
3. Prepare the bulgar wheat according to packet instructions (Cook in a pan of boiling water - enough to be fully absorbed - keep adding more until soft to bite).
4. Mix the cooked bulgar wheat into the large bowl with the other ingredients and stir until combined.
5. When the chicken is cooked, stir into the bulgar wheat mixture than squeeze fresh lemon juice on top and mix in the parsley and mint, leaving some to garnish.
6. Either eat straight away as a warm dish or leave to cool for later or the next day!

Enjoy :)

Juice Plus Complete shakes

Just a quick post about Juice Plus Complete vanilla shakes which I've tried for the first time today, and wanted to share with you what they are and why I've decided to try them.

Juice Plus Complete 'provides all the nutritional elements of a whole meal; a balanced mix of carbs, proteins and fats as well as dietary fibre and vitamins and minerals'.

I decided to try these Juice Plus shakes due to a friends recommendation, and am using them as a nutritional supplement and for pre or post-workout recovery since the powder contains a good amount of protein, calcium, zinc and all other great vitamins and minerals. I will probably also add it to a home-made smoothie for a nutritional boost and to make the shake taste nicer and last longer!

For those of you wanting to lose some weight in the new year - Juice Plus shakes can also be used for weight control, by replacing a meal with a shake (they come in chocolate flavour as well!) I know a number of people who have successfully lost weight using Juice Plus as a meal replacement whilst eating healthily and staying active.

I will keep you updated with my thoughts on the shakes - so far they seem good as a motivational thing for me where it encourages me to eat healthy and eat clean, to give my health a boost and as a post-gym shake to replenish my energy levels. I will also have a Juice Plus Complete smoothie recipe up soon so keep checking back if you are interested!

(p.s. don't worry this food blog has not turned into a health freaks blog - I will still be posting a range of recipes!)