Smashed Cucumber Chicken Salad

Cucumbers are one of my favorite foods of all, and my son hates them.  So everything I make cucumber is not eaten by him.  Anyway, this was a great weeknight dinner - super simple.  It was supposed to be last night's din din except I had a bad tumble on some concrete so was not able to prepare it, but was good enough to make it tonight...

Shirley Mae's Meatloaf

I saw this on a food t.v. show and was inspired to make it.  Shirley Mae has a restaurant in Louisville, Kentucky.  I didn't have a recipe, just saw what her daughter did on the program.  Shirley Mae said there was no recipes in their family - her mom taught her by feel and their palettes taught them taste.  So here's my take on it.  This was Sunday comfort food dinner and then tomorrow, it's back on the healthy eating program.  Into a blender I put:

Christine's Green Papaya Salad

I am in LOVE (obsessed?) 💘 with this salad and will order it whenever I see it on a menu.  Mostly at home here I find the Vietnamese version, but I have been fortunate to try Andy Ricker's Pok Pok Thai version as well.  I made my own take on it today.  But first, here are pics of three versions I've consumed while dining out: 

Homemade Baked Beans with Weenies

On vacay now and I felt like making this - who doesn't love weenies and beans?  Plus it was surprisingly cold, grey and chilly when I woke up, so this dish seemed perfect for today.  I remember years ago making baked beans and after all the time it took, I decided it tasted just like opening a can of pork 'n beans and haven't made them since.  However, canned processed products are way down on my list of use nowadays... This recipe (my own concoction) is time consuming so not something I would make while working.

Chicken, Snap Pea, Baby Bok Choy Stir Fry

I recently learned that my son loves sugar snap peas so I decided to use them for dinner tonight.  I made some long grain brown rice when I came in the door first.  I made this dinner without care or finesse.  It may show in my pictures?  I was too lazy to blog my sauce tonight, but it was similar to this one.  I was watching the "Survivor - 38th season" finale, I was busy with that and cooking was a rare chore tonight!  😊

Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Pecan Cookies

I felt like using my KitchenAid stand mixer today and wanted to make cookies.  I can't even remember the last time I've made them... I saw I still had a Costco size huge bag of chocolate chips in the cupboard that I bought at Christmas for something.  I decided cookies it was, sweet and salty ones!  What I used today:

Cedar Plank Pork Tenderloin & Grilled Okra

I have a feeling by the end of this year's grilling season, I will have put many a different foods on the cedar plank.  My head went through so many different possibilities of rubs and marinades, but in the end decided to keep it simple.

Cowboy Caviar

Now that I'm seeing fresh corn for sale, I decided to make this.  Loved the colorfulness of it and the name of the recipe.  I didn't think I'd be able to find black eyed peas, but I did in "No Frills" grocery store - No Name brand... What I used:

Cedar Planked Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs

I planned to do burgers on the grill tonight, however, I remembered I had a pack of chicken in the fridge that I was going to cook yesterday and didn't get to it.  I was going to make my own teriyaki marinade for it.  It had to be used tonight so when I  got home I soaked a plank for 2 hours and marinated the chicken.  I just used Olive Garden Italian dressing, crushed chili flakes and Italian seasoning.

Baked Ravioli with Marinara Sauce Appetizer

I learned this recipe a long time ago, but I can't remember where...We were going to watch "Game of Thrones" at a neighbors and they asked that we bring some finger foods.  I thought of this, as it was easy.  I also made this one which is even easier and always a hit - plus it played into "Cinco de Mayo".  What I used:

Instant Pot: Lazy Lasagna Soup

Can you say easy weeknight comfort food?  I did.  Seemed perfect to end the work week because I don't like cooking on Fridays.  I walked 11 km today after only a few hours of sleep last night and a long work week.  I didn't end up making this till 10pm - after a nap!  😴 I made minor edits.  You don't need an instant pot to make this, it will just take longer in a dutch oven to simmer the soupy sauce.  What I used: