Mostly Alive...

Seeing as I've got morning sickness, I thought this might be a nice chance to post some of my favorite tried and true recipes from my files. Although I can't guarantee I'll always be in the mood to do so, so I apologize in advance for rather infrequent updates in the next few months.

The other night I just HAD to have sloppy joes. I don't know why, but nothing else would do. And where can you actually just go buy a sloppy joe? So I dug out my favorite recipe and sent my poor husband into the kitchen to make them for me. And they came out as good as ever. We also had some wonderful, summery cucumber salad (vegan!) to go with it that I finished eating for lunch the other day when nothing else sounded good, so I'll post that recipe too. They're both easy and good and perfect for the finicky pregnant lady...and even those who are not.

Dana's Sloppy Joes

(6-8 servings)

1 and 1/2 lbs. ground beef (93% lean or leaner)
1 cup chopped onion
1 cup ketchup
1 tablespoon mustard
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
2 teaspoons worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon salt
pepper to taste

-Brown ground beef with onion in a skillet.
-Add remaining ingredients and stir well.
-Simmer on low to medium low for 30-40 minutes, stirring occasionally.
-If mixture becomes too dry before this point, add 1/4 cup of water and continue simmering
-Serve on hamburger buns.

Cucumber Salad with Dill

2 english cucumbers (2 lbs total)
1 small red onion
1 and 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon white or red wine vinegar
1 teaspoon sugar
2 teaspoons dried dill or 2 tablespoons fresh dill

-Slice the cucumbers lengthwise, scoop out the seeds with a spoon and slice about 1/4 inch thick.
-Thinly slice the onion.
-Put the onion and cucumber in a colander and toss it with the salt.
-Let them sit and drain for 20 minutes. (Don't leave it much longer than that or you will have salty veggies.)
-Press the liquid out of the cucumbers and onions and rinse to remove the extra salt.
-Combine the vinegar and sugar, stir well.
-Put the cucumbers and onions in a bowl and pour the vinegar mixture over them. Toss to coat.
-Stir in the dill.