Sunday Dinner: Meatloaf

How about a comfort food Sunday dinner of meatloaf, baked potatoes (both russet and sweet potatoes), and grilled asparagus? I added a green salad on the side, and of course I roasted some onions along with the potatoes because I could not help myself. Yummmmm. grab a fork. It's so good!

CLASSIC MEAT LOAF

1 pound lean ground beef

1 medium onion, finely diced

2 cloves garlic, minced

2 eggs, beaten

1 cup dry breadcrumbs

½ cup plus ¼ cup ketchup, divided

1 teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon black pepper

1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

Heat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, combine all ingredients except for final ¼ cup ketchup. Mix well. Form into a loaf shape and place in center of a 9x13-inch glass baking pan. Spread remaining ketchup on top of loaf.

Bake for approximately one hour. Remove from oven and let sit for 15 minutes before serving.

Summer is Here!

Goodness, how the year is flying by. It's summertime already and I swear it feels like we just had Christmas. But life is good, and we're trying to savor the moments as we rush through life...

Thought I'd share a lovely cool salad recipe today. This Asian Cucumber Salad is the perfect accompaniment to grilled chicken or fish, or as a side to a sandwich. Or maybe by itself... it's lovely anytime! Just grab a fork and try a bite. You'll thank me later!

I hope that you all are having a wonderful summer with lots of good times with those you love. Enjoy! Until next time...

ASIAN CUCUMBER SALAD

 3 medium cucumbers, peeled, seeded* and thinly sliced

1 small (or ½ medium) sweet yellow onion, peeled, halved, and thinly sliced

2 tablespoons

1 tablespoon honey or agave nectar

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon pepper

1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds (optional)

Peel cucumbers. To remove seeds: cut cucumbers in half lengthwise, then remove seeds from center of cucumbers using a spoon or the back of a vegetable peeler. Cut into thin slices.

Combine cucumbers and onions in a large bowl. In a separate bowl, whisk together the vinegar, honey, salt and pepper. Pour dressing over cucumbers and onions, stirring well to combine. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving. Garnish with toasted sesame seeds if desired.