Mini Meatloaves in Really Good Brown Gravy

A friend gave me this recipe... it's a recipe that has been in his girlfriends family for a while and they really enjoy it and he told me everyone they've had over for it has asked for the recipe. So, I decided to give it a try. We loved it! Even though my husband does not like mustard, he liked this and had seconds. I did change one thing, however. My husband doesn't care for veal, and veal is a bit hard to find... so here is the break down of the meat I used:
1/2 lb lean ground beef, 1/2 lb ground pork, 1/3 lb lean ground turkey. I served mine with a side of mash potatoes, steamed broccoli and fresh baked french bread! YUM. Oh, and the best part is the leftovers made into a meatloaf and mash potato sandwich the next day! Just add warmed up mash potatoes and meatloaf to toasted bread. Add some extra ketchup and lettuce... YUM


Ingredients:
*1 1/3 lbs meat loaf mix (beef, pork, and veal)
*1/3 cup plus 2 T ketchup, divided
*1/3 cup dried bread crumbs
*1 large egg, beaten
*1 T dijon mustard
*2 tsp Worchestershire sauce
*1 tsp salt
*1/2 tsp freshly ground pepper
Gravy:
*3 T unsalted butter
*1/4 cup all-purpose flour
*2cups canned reduced-sodium beef broth
*salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste


 Instructions:
Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat the oven to 350F. Lightly oil 9x13 baking dish. 


Combine the meat loaf mix plus accompanying ingredients (minus the 2T of extra ketchup) in a large bowl (your hands work best). 


In the baking dish, shape the meat mixture into six 3" wide mounds. Poke your finger into the middle of each mound to make a hole. Bake until an instant-read thermometer inserted in meat loaf reads 165F, about 40 minutes. During the last 5 minutes of baking, spread the remaining 2 T ketchup over the mini loaves. Transfer them to a platter with aluminum foil to keep them warm. 


Tilt the baking dish and spoon out the clear fat, leaving 1 T juice in the pan, place over 2 burners on medium heat. Add the butter and melt it. Sprinkle with the flour and whisk well. Whisk in the broth and bring it to a simmer. Reduce the heat to low and simmer, whisking often, until the gravy is smooth and thick, about 3 min. Season with salt and pepper. 


Serve the meat loaves hot with the gravy passed on the side.

Mixing 3 meats and rest of ingredients

poke thumb in top of each mound

after baking and adding additional ketchup

melting butter in juices from the meatloaf

add flour, whisk. Add broth, whisk.

Dinner is served!

Thanks Adam and Michelle for this recipe! :) Keep them coming!!  I love easy to make comfort food!

*** 6/8/11- I made this dish again today and did it a little different. I used more turkey than the other 2 meats this time. I also only used half the amount of the mustard it called for and I did a half cup of ketchup instead of 1/3. I used Italian seasoned bread crumbs instead of the plain ones this time since that is what I had on hand. I think it added extra flavor. I also finely chopped up some frozen spinach I had on hand into the mixture. We served with mash potatoes, the gravy and corn. It was awesome!!

added the spinach to the mixture

Excellent! One of our favorite new meals. My 14 month old ate a whole one along with  the potatoes and corn!!

I love it the next day as a meatloaf sandwich!!

Miso Cod with Spicy Cucumbers

This recipe is again out of the "Cook This, Not That!" book by David Zinczenko and Matt Goulding.  Here is the recipe straight from the book... "This dish is slightly more elegant (and considerably more nutritious) than the fishy fare you'll encounter at most chain restaurants, but it's just as easy to prepare. The salty-sweetness of the miso marinade pairs perfectly with the quick-pickled cucumbers for a dish that takes no more than 20 mins of actual cooking time, yet will elevate you to the status of the Iron Chef in the eyes of those you serve it to."

*1 cup white miso paste (found in certain stores in the refrigerated section)
*1/2 cup mirin (found in Asian isle- It's a sweet cooking rice wine)
*2 T Brown Sugar
*4 cod fillets (6 oz each) (you can also use sea bass, swordfish, or halibut)
*1 lg English cucumber, seeded and sliced into half moons
*1/4 cup rice wine vinegar
*1 T salt
*1 T sugar
*2 tsp red pepper flakes

1. Combine miso, mirin and brown sugar in bowl. Stir thoroughly to combine. Pour marinade over fish and marinate in fridge for up to 12 hours. (I did it for about 8)

2. Mix cucumber, vinegar, salt, sugar, and pepper flakes in a bowl. Allow cucumbers to picke for at least 30 mins and up to 24 hours in fridge (I did 3 hours)

3. Preheat the broiler. Remove the cod from marinade and place on baking sheet. St baking sheet 6 inches below broiler and cook 8-10 mins, until fish is deeply caramelized and flakes with gentle pressure. Serve the cod with the cucumber.

**I also served this over sticky white rice and a side of steamed broccoli that I seasoned with lemon pepper and a squeeze of lemon. Tasty and healthy.  (One helping of the fish and cucumber is 260 calories, 1 g fat) I really liked it and so did my husband and daughter, although they wouldn't eat the cucumbers. The fish was salty, but also sweet and the combination between that and the spicy cucumbers was awesome!

The book compares this meal to P.F. Chang's Oolong Marinated Sea Bass. By making this dish, you save 322 calories and $17.73!

The Mirin and Miso I used for fish and the Rice vinegar for cucumbers...

Marinating fish

Marinating Cucumbers

This was served over rice with the side of steamed broccoli and some left over chayote squash from the night before.

I love the how caramelized the fish gets!

One of my favorite cookbooks. Full of great tips and recipes!

Tortilla Crusted Chipotle and Lime Tilapia

My new obsession are these Tilapia filet's found at Costco as well as many grocery stores... They have all different flavors, but this one is my favorite and make for a healthy meal. The brand is High Liner.

So even though this is not a totally home cooked meal, I had to share it because our family likes these so much... even my kids! I usually just bake as directed on package (7-10 mins at 375) and serve with rice, lots of lime slices (or lemon) and usually some type of veggie or fruit. I love that they are a little less than 4 oz each too... perfect size. These are also good as a fish sandwich or sliced up and served on top of a salad!

Here I served over Minute rice... I like to squeeze LOTS of lime over both the fish AND the rice! 

Check out their products and find out where you can get them near you!
http://www.seacuisine.com/

Veggie Goat Cheese Lasagna

Thanks to my friend KP for the amazing recipe!! I am in love with it! My husband won't eat it so this will be a meal I make for girls night or a night he won't be home for dinner. I had a friend over tonight for this and she is just as hooked as I am on it! We ate half the pan! Not the healthiest of meals, but ohhh sooo yummy!

*1 box no bake lasagna noodles
*1 jar Alfredo Sauce (I like Classico's Light Creamy Alfredo Sacue)
*1 jar red sauce (I like Prego traditional)
*1 head of asparagus- chop into 1 inch pieces
*1 medium zucchini- cut into half moons
*1 can quartered artichokes- drain
*Goat cheese- crumbled
*1 cup mozzarella cheese

Preheat oven to 350. Mix the two sauces together in a bowl. In baking pan, start by placing enough sauce on bottom of pan to coat pan. Place lasagna noodles over. Then sprinkle half the veggies and follow by taking half the goat cheese and 1/3 of the mozzarella cheese and sprinkling evenly over. pour more sauce over and repeat layer one more time. End by topping noodles with sauce and last 1/3 of the mozzarella cheese.  (Should be two layers of veggie and cheese, 3 layers of noodles)

Cover and bake for 45 mins. Uncover and continue to bake for 10 mins. I serve this with bread and salad.

I will do a better job of taking pictures next time I make this, here is the finished product after a few pieces were missing. This is a MUST try!

3 Bean Turkey Chili for a Crowd

I like chili a lot during the cold months. I really love this recipe. It's got great flavor and it's healthy (minus some of the toppings). My whole family likes this recipe and I know yours will too! 


*2-3 tsp olive oil

*1 onion (sweet or white) I tend to use 1/2 of both in the chili and then chop the other halves to serve on top  of my chili

*5 garlic cloves (pealed and minced)

*2 tsp kosher salt

*1 tsp black ground pepper

* 2 lbs lean ground turkey meat

* 1 lb stew meat

*1/2 cup chili powder

* 1 1/2 T oregano

* 1 1/2 T cumin

* 1 T paprika

* 1 small red pepper- cored, seeded and chopped

* 1 small green pepper- cored, seeded and chopped

* 1 jalapeno- cored, seeded and chopped (sometimes i omit this when cooking and serve on top so my 1 year old son can eat the chili)

* 2 cans (14 oz each) diced tomatoes

* 2 cans (3 oz each) tomato paste (no salt added)

*3 T red wine vinegar

* 1 can pinto beans

* 1 can dark red kidney beans

* 1 can white (kidney) beans

*Toppings... see below

1) saute onion and garlic in olive oil in sauce pan till soft. seaon with 1/2 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp pepper. Put in crock pot

2) brown stew meat in a little oil till browned (not cooked through) add to crock pot

3)in same sauce pan, add more oil and brown turkey meat and break up clumps. Stir in remaining salt and pepper, chili powder, oregano, cumin and paprika. Cook on low heat till fragrent. Then add this to crock pot.

4)Add sliced peppers, diced tomatoes, tomatoe paste and red wine vinegar to pot. Cook on low 6-8 hours (the longer the better).

5) After the 6 hours add the 3 cans of beans. Continue cooking for a hour- hour and half. (I don't like the beans to cook in crock pot for more than 2 hours tops so I usually add them about 1hr to 1 1/2 before we are going to eat)

We almost always serve this with sticky rice. I like placing rice at the bottom of my bowl, chili on top of that and then add my toppings. My husband likes to just eat his with crackers and lots of cheese. My son likes his plain. 

Topping Suggestions:

crackers

shredded cheese

chopped white and green onion

sour cream

hot sauce

sliced jalapeno

diced avocado

sauteing onion and garlic... add to crock pot

browning stew meat... add to crock pot

Brown ground turkey and then add seasonings and simmer until fragrant ... add to crockpot

Adding the peppers, diced tomatoes, tomato paste and red wine vinegar to the crock pot over the  meat.

Stir all ingredients and cook on medium-low for 6-8 hours

drain 3 beans 

Add beans when there is about 1-2 hours left to cook- stir

Served with topping

Pineapple Teryaki Chicken

I like this meal because it's easy and healthy and can be made pretty quick. (easy to double recipe as well for more)

*2 chicken breasts- pounded thin
*1 can crushed pineapple (not the small jar, the reg size jar)
*1 cup yoshida's gourmet sauce

1) Drian the juice from the pineapple into a bowl. Place the crushed pineapple back in fridge.  In zip lock gallon bag, put in chicken breasts, 3/4 of the yoshida's sauce and the drained pineapple juice from bowl. Marinate chicken as long as you can. I usually do 4-8 hours.

2) You can either bake or grill the chicken...

Bake: I like to line a glass baking pan with tinfoil... makes for easier clean up. pour in the remaining 1/4 yoshida's sauce, 1/4 of the pineapple and place the chicken in pan. Bake at 375 for 30 mins. Place remaining pineapple on top of the chicken breasts and cook an additional 10-15 mins.

Grill: Grill chicken until done, using the remaining yoshida's to keep moist while grilling.  Warm up the crushed pineapple either over stove top or in microwave (or on grill on tin foil). Serve on top of the grilled chicken breasts.


**Serve over sticky rice and sauteed veggies and a type of stir fry or serve along side roasted potatoes and steamed broccoli for a healthy, easy meal. We make this often!

Grilled with side of steamed broccoli and green beans and roasted carrots and sweet potatoes.  I typically put on more of the crushed pineapple.

I buy my Yoshida's at Costco. They have it for the same price on Amazon if you don't have a Costco near you. This stuff is great on chicken, shrimp, fish, steak.... Veggies!

Chili con Queso Dip

I made this last night for girls night and it was almost gone before I remembered to take a picture... so next time I make it I will be sure to attach a picture. This is a SUPER simple recipe that is great for a party. You can either make it in a small (16 oz or so) crock pot or over the stove top on a low setting.

*1 can of your favorite Hormel Chili (I almost always use HOT, no beans. Sometimes I do the one with beans as well. Both are good depending on your preference.)
*1 8oz package of Cream Cheese
*1 cup shredded cheese (either cheddar or a colby jack mix)
*Bag of tortilla chips

Place first three ingredients on low in either crock pot or sauce pan over stove top. Stir frequently. Should take about 10 mins for cream cheese and cheese to melt. Mix well and serve with tortilla chips.

Great for football parties!!

Slum Gullion

You are going to look at this recipe and most likely turn your nose up like I did when my friend first gave me the recipe. Sounds so weird. I went to her house one day and she made it and I really liked it. It's not one of my favorite meals, but it's quick, easy and it's a great recipe when you have left overs in your fridge you need to get rid of.

Earlier this week I made a casserole so I had about half an onion and a quarter of a green pepper left over I had to get rid of. I also had a 1/2 lb of ground beef left over from the hamburgers I made last night. I always have noodles in the pantry and ketchup in the fridge.  Below is the normal recipe... but you can alter amounts based on what you have left over.

*1 lb lean ground beef (again, I prefer organic grass fed)
*1 medium sweet onion- large chop
*seasoning (I use Nature Seasoning and Black pepper)
*1 Bag Extra- Wide egg noodles
*Ketchup to taste
**optional- sometimes if I have it I add in 1/2 green bell pepper- lg chop

1. In pan, put in olive oil and onion (as well as pepper if you are using one). Saute till onion browns slightly. Add meat, seasonings, and cook till meat is done.
2. While you are cooking meat, boil the egg noodles. Drain.
3. Add noodles to the pan with the meat and onion. Stir.
4. Serve in a bowl and squirt ketchup over top. Stir till ketchup is mixed in well.

I know... sounds weird. But trust me. It's pretty good!

onion, green pepper and ground beef- cook till meat is done

Add noodles to pan

Serve with ketchup

Cheeseburgers... McD's style

We love burgers, but I don't always want to get out the grill. Plus I LOVE McDonalds burgers. Wish I didn't, but I do. So making a cheeseburger that tastes as good as McD's, but MUCH healthier (and I know exactly what is in it) is a huge hit in this family!

Serves 8 cheeseburgers
*1 lb lean ground beef (i use organic grass fed ground beef. You can taste the quality!)
*8 hamburger buns (I like Sara Lee Soft & Smooth Whole Grain White buns)
*Ketchup
*Classic yellow mustard
*2 T dried onion flakes
*1/2 Cup boiling water
*16 dill pickle slices
*8 thin slices deli american cheese
*salt

1)Put the dried onion flakes into the boiling water and let sit till rehydrated and no longer crunchy
2)Take meat and make 8 balls. Flatten each ball with your hand or wax paper till 1/8 inch thick
3)Brown faces of buns in fry pan over medium heat. Remove buns and in same pan cook burgers about 2 mins per side- salt each side to taste
4)On top bun, spread ketchup, mustard and onion in that order and add two pickle slices.
5)Put beef patty on bottom bun. Place cheese slice on top of patty. Quickly slap top bun on. Microwave for 15 seconds (until cheese melts).

We serve with Ore-Ida brand french fries or tater tots on the side. You could always do healthier sides too, such as corn on cob, baked beans or a dinner salad. Enjoy!

Turkey, Cheese and Avocado Melt

A recipe for a sandwich?! I know, sounds crazy. I mean, who doesn't know how to make a sandwich? This sandwich is SO good I had to share though. My husband and I love it and my daughter loves it minus the avocado!

*2 slices of Whole Wheat Bread

*1 slice cheese (I do cheddar or american)

*1 tsp butter spread 

*3 thin slices of deli turkey

*1/2 avocado cut into 4 wedges

1. Take one piece of bread and lightly butter one side. 

2. Place a fry pan over medium heat on the stove. Once heated, place the buttered piece of bread in the pan- butter side down. Now place the cheese on top. 

3. Once cheese starts melting on the bread, place the turkey on top of the cheese. Then add the 4 avocado slices on top of the turkey. Place top piece of bread on top.

4. Flip over and toast for another 30 seconds or so till bread on bottom turns a bit golden. 

5. Cut on a diagonal and serve.

I love how the cheese and turkey are hot and melted and the avocado stays cool and creamy tasting with the semi crunchy bread. I serve this with my daughters favorite snack- Apple slices and 1T of peanut butter for dipping her apple in.  A cold glass of milk for her and some ice tea for me makes this a great lunch!

cheese starting to melt

after being flipped over

YUM

Warm Bruschetta

I am obsessed with this recipe. Some days if my husband won't be home for dinner, I just make this for myself and have a glass of wine with it. It's great as a side to a meal or as a appetizer. We make it a lot along steak or even just to accompany a big salad.

*2-4 tomatoes- cut into thin slices
*2-3 T EVOO
*2-3 minced garlic cloves
*around 1/4 cup italian bread crumbs
*around 1/2 cup shredded cheese (italian blend or i usually use cheddar or a colby/jack mix)
*italian seasoning
*Loaf of fresh italian or french bread- cut at angle into 1 inch slices.

Heat oven to 250. On a cookie sheet, drizzle about 2-3 T EVOO.  Dip tomato slices into oil so both sides get oil on them. Place tomatoes in single layer on cookie sheet. Sprinkle garlic over so garlic goes on and in between tomatoes. (use more or less garlic depending on how much you like garlic). Season with italian seasonings (small pinch on each tomato). Then use a medium pinch of bread crumbs on top of each tomato. Top each tomato with a large pinch of cheese. Put in oven and bake for about 10 minutes... or until cheese in melted and tomatoes are warm and soft. Place a tomato slice on a piece of cold bread.

YUM. Have a glass of red wine and enjoy!

Beer Brisket- "Cook This, Not That"

I absolutely love the book "Cook This, Not That!" By David Zinczenko and Matt Goulding. Not only does it give you better choices for things you already love to eat, but it also has some really great recipes in it... including this one! Here is what the recipe says in the book...

"Don't mess with Texas, they say, and we try not to. But it's hard not to fall in love with some of their more inspired culinary treasures like fajitas, nachos, and smoked brisket. They all share one thing in common, though: a need for nutritional improvement. We deliver that here with a leaner cut of beef, a light sauce, and a modest portion size." They then compare this recipe to the Lone Star Steakhouse's Texas Ribeye. This recipe saves you 622 calories and $16.85 per serving!

*3-4lb lean brisket
*2 Tbsp chili powder
*1 tsp smoked paprika (I just used regular paprika)
*Salt and Black pepper to taste (I used a mixture of sea salt and kosher salt and black pepper)
*1 can/bottle dark beer (i used guinness and I used 1 1/2 bottles)
*1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
*1/2 cup ketchup
*2 Tbsp honey

Here is the recipe they give... see my notes below to see how I did it a bit differently.

*Preheat oven to 325. Rub brisket all over with chili powder, paprika and salt/pepper. Place brisket in baking dish, pour in half of beer and cover thightly with foil. Bake for 2 hours, until brisket is very tender.
*At this point, you can eat brisket and be really happy with results. But to add that authentic char and smoky flavor, you'll need to heat a gas or charcoal grill (if using charcoal, add handful of soaked hickory or oak chips for great smoky flavor).
*Combine half of remaining beer with vinegar, ketchup and honey and brush over brisket. Place on coolest part of grill and cook until lightly charred all over, brushing with more of beer mixture along way. After meat rests for 10 mins, carve and serve with a bit more sauce or on a warm roll for a mean brisket sandwich.

****I cooked mine at 250 for 6 1/2 hours in the oven. Then I used the gas grill till it was slightly charred on outside. This is good served alone with the sauce (i recommend mash potatoes as a side). Also good first day or as left overs as a sandwich! I used 3/4 beer in the cooking and another 3/4 beer in the sauce... don't be wastefull- drink the rest:)

Before cooking- in about an inch of beer

After about 6 1/2 hours of slow cooking at low temp in oven

Grilling and brushing on the beer sauce

As Sandwich

Enjoy! Spoon more sauce over top of this.

I LOVE this cookbook. Full of great recipes as well as tips!

Mostaccioli Bake

The Italian in me loves this recipe... The mom in me thinks there is no better recipe... Follow my recipe tips for a healthy recipe that kids will LOVE (as well as any picky husbands!) :) (This is very similar to the Pasta Bake I've posted, I just improvised with that one since I didn't have all these ingredients)


Ingredients:
*1 package mostaccioli or penne noodles(Try Ronzoni Smart Taste Penne- healthier, but same great taste- honestly... your husband and kids (and you) won't be able to tell the difference!
*1 lb ground meat (I recommend Ground white turkey or lean grass fed ground beef)
*1 can diced tomatoes
*2 jars spaghetti sauce (I buy the HUGE Prego jars and I use about 1/4 to mix and a little
      less than 1/4 on top.)
*1 cup shredded motz cheese
*1 14-16oz container cottage cheese (you can use ricotta cheese too but I think the cottage cheese makes it more moist and I use fat free or low fat for a healthier meal)
*1 tsp garlic salt
*3 eggs-beaten
*Italian Seasonings


Directions:
1. Cook noodles until done in a stock pot. At same time cook ground beef until done. (you can season meat with italian seasonings and some black pepper)
2. Drain noodles and put them back into the stock pot. Add the ground beef, diced tomatoes (undrained), 1 jar spaghetti sauce, cottage cheese, 1/2 cup cheese and garlic salt. Once mixed, add in the beaten eggs and stir again.
3. Poor into a large casserole dish. Pour other jar of spaghetti sauce over top and spread evenly. Sprinkle 1/2 cup of cheese on top.
4. Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes or until warm and bubbly throughout.


Serve with warm Italian Bread and a side salad.

(Most of the ingredients: Ground turkey I usually use Jennie-O or any organic ground turkey they have at my store. Also here I used stewed tomatoes and diced them since I didn't have a can of diced on hand. Worked the same. 

After mixing ingredients in stock pot, pour into casserole baking dish

Top with more sauce and cheese. I also add more italian seasonings to top.

Bake till warm throughout and cheese is browned.

Serve with bread! YUM

6/22/11- Tonight I made this meal a bit differently. Wanted to try to make it a touch healthier:) I used Ronzoni Garden Delight noodles (made with spinach, carrot and tomatoe). I also add chopped spinach to the meat and added the can of tomatoes right to the meat after it was browned and simmered this for about 15 minutes before adding it, and everything else, to the noodles.

Simmer meat with chopped spinach and can tomatoes. I also added my italian seasonings to this.

Much more colorful and the family said it tasted great!!