Lemon Dill Bulgur Salad with Chickpeas, Cucumber and Feta Cheese

Post by: Holly – Hodgson Mill Blogger

I think my taste buds suffer from seasonal affect disorder.  Toward the end of winter, when apples and citrus start losing their appeal, I long for fresh herbs, vegetables and fruits in the worst way.  My desire is compounded by the multitude of seed catalogs that arrive daily reminding me of all the things I want to grow when the weather becomes warm again.  To perk myself up, I decided to splurge and buy one of those over-priced packages of fresh herbs, dill in particular, as the inspiration for a spring-like lunch.

I enjoy a good salad as much as the next person, but I need it to include protein to keep me satisfied and help me avoid snacking ten times before dinner.  So, to create a delicious, protein-packed, spring-inspired lunch, I used Hodgson Mill Bulgur Wheat as the basis of my salad.  In case you weren’t sure, bulgur wheat is whole wheat that’s been precooked (steamed) then dried and cracked.  Hodgson Mill’s version helps give these whole grains a hearty 10 grams of protein per serving.

Now, to be honest, I’d never cooked with bulgur before; the name was a bit of a turn off, and tabooli, the dish it’s most associated with, never seemed appetizing to me.  So, my first experience with Hodgson Mill Bulgur Wheat was in a fantastic breakfast cereal I made recently (look for it in a post coming soon).  It was kind of an “Ah ha!” moment.  Bulgur wheat was really good and quick to fix.  Who knew?  My girls even started requesting it for breakfast in lieu of oatmeal.  So, with all of that in mind, I made the jump from breakfast to a savory dish and put it in this Lemon Dill Bulgur Salad with Chickpeas, Cucumbers and Feta Cheese. I think my taste buds were dancing in my mouth

Butternut Squash Macaroni and Cheese

I think the moment I realized it was fall was when I cut into my first butternut squash of the season and the absolute shocking, but gorgeous, Halloween-orange color was revealed. Somehow, the color had faded in my memory since last winter; but take a look at it now– it’s absolutely glorious. It practically screams “Vitamins! Nutrients! Good stuff!”