i had to cook.

since we've been in the ridiculously long process of packing & {hopefully someday} moving, i haven't gotten to cook in so freakin long.  on monday, i just had to cook.  i had to! it was blakey's first night home post night float & i had to make dinner to celebrate!

the cooking things we have left unpacked include:  a knife, a cutting board, salt & pepper, olive oil, & garlic.  that plus fresh ingredients is all i need to make something delicious, right??

i get home with three delicious dishes planned & i realize... we packed the darn knives.  crap!  luckily for me, i have a knife kit down in my car!  negative, knife kit at work.  so i drive to work.  on the way to work, i realize i don't have a single bowl unpacked.  seriously, what was i thinking??

so i grab my knife & some handy to-go boxes from urban.  problem solved!  to-go boxes are kind of like bowls.  execution: this could still be interesting.

i wish y'all could've seen me trying to cook chicken with the one le creuset pot i have unpacked, wash it, stir one dish in it, transfer to to-go box, wash it, stir another dish in it, transfer to another to-go box, wash it, & finally stir the final dish in it.  it was quite comical.

the things i will do to cook for my husband.

after all of that, dinner actually turned out quite well.  i made avocado chicken salad & roasted corn, avocado, & tomato salad from this post & one new recipe:  watermelon cucumber feta salad.  let me tell you - this was the most peculiarly delicious thing i have ever eaten.  every time i took a bite of it, i immediately thought "this is so weird.  but i really want to keep eating more!"  so i think you should try it too:

the strangest salad i have ever eaten

aka watermelon cucumber feta salad.

originally found from: pinterest, of course.

adapted from: the healthy foodie.

a quarter of a watermelon, coffee scoop balled

{it's my favorite watermelon portioning method}

1 cucumber, chopped

3 T fresh mint, chopped

2 T basil, chopped

salt & pepper

2 T cooking wine... or just wine because that is all you have

1 T evoo

1/2 c toasted walnuts, chopped

2 oz feta, crumbled

1. throw all of the ingredients in a bowl & toss until well combined.

2. chill for 30 minutes or so to allow the flavors to marry.

3. enjoy!

happy first day of 3rd year, byrds!!

love love,
kjp.