Messy Meatloaf/Stuffed Meatloaf

OK, so I found a couple of really cool recipes for this and thought it sounded and looked really yummy because we are pretty much suckers for anything Italian. Mine was most similar to Messy Meatloaf from Jersey Girl Cooks , but I originally found it through Stuffed Turkey Meatloaf from Full Bellies, Happy Kids. Anyway, I wanted to credit my inspirations and am also including the pic from Jersey Girl, since that's what mine looked like. I like my meatloaf to be soft, moist and juicy, so I use sauce and more filler in the meat mixture, so it's the consistency of a good Italian meatball, rather than a burger patty, but if you are more the meat type, by all means reduce the breadcrumbs and the sauce! Anyway, it was quite delicious and it is going in "the rotation". Since it has a veggie in it, I just served with a salad, but garlic parm mashed 'taters would be really good with it in retrospect. Here goes, give it a try - I think you will like it...

Messy Meatloaf

• olive oil
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 package fresh baby spinach (6-10 oz - whatever your store carries will do just fine)
• 1 small can diced tomatoes, drained well (you could easily omit this, but since the original recipe called for mushrooms and Richard hates them, I wanted something else with the spinach)
• 2 c spaghetti sauce, divided (I use the cheapy Hunt's -Traditional flavor)
• 1.5 - 2 c shredded mozzarella cheese, divided (I use part skim mozzarella to save on calories, but used all 2 cups, you know I love my cheese)
• .5 c Italian blend cheese (you could easily omit, but I pretty much keep this on hand because I love it so much in my Italian recipes)
• 1 .5 lbs ground turkey
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• 1 cup Italian style bread crumbs
• 1 tbs dried Italian seasoning
• salt & pepper to taste
  

Preheat oven to 350. Saute garlic quickly in olive oil and add spinach to "wilt" (don't let it get all goopey here people). Remove from heat and add approx 1/2 cup of spaghetti sauce, 1/2 c mozzarella cheese and 1/4 cup Italian blend cheese, and toss to combine. Set aside.

In a bowl, combine the turkey, egg, bread crumbs, and seasoning. Add 1/2 cup of both spaghetti sauce and mozzarella. Mix well. *Adjust sauce and bread crumbs for your desired consistency by adding a little bit at a time. Add 2/3 of mixture to a lightly greased Pyrex. Flatten out the center to make a slight well (I left about a 1/2' lip on the sides. Spread spinach mixture in "well". Top with a little more cheese if desired (I did). Top with remaining meat mixture, and press around edges to "seal" and shape it like a loaf (if you like). I just used the side of my spatula/spoonula thing to do this. Spread remaining spaghetti sauce over top and sprinkle with remaining cheese. Bake at 350 for approximately 35 minutes or until meat thermometer reaches 165. Remove from oven and let rest for about 5-10 minutes before serving, or it is TRULY "Messy Meatloaf"! :-)

White Trash Tuesday

Not really... Um, well maybe sort of. Two words - Taco Meatloaf.
This is not really a "classy" recipe, but it is so darn good! I've passed it along to a few friends who either don't like meatloaf themselves or have kids who don't and it still gets good marks because hello, who doesn't like Mexican?? Anyway it is very healthy using the turkey and 2% cheese (please don't try to go "no-fat", that stuff is wretched and fake). I served it with a rice dish made up of stuff I had on hand and it was an excellent meal.

Taco Meatloaf

• 1lb ground turkey
• 4 taco shells, crushed (I use these because they aren't salty and they are CHEAP, the taco seasoning is salty enough, so I think that fritos or corn chips might make it too salty unless they are left over freebies from a Mexican restaurant - hmmm, this has me thinking now, but I digress)
• 1 pkg taco seasoning
• Minced onion to taste (I just used the dried, who wants to chop a whole onion for this?)
• Garlic powder to taste
• 1 can Rotel (drained)
• Grated cheddar cheese (I probably used about a cup in the meatloaf because we like cheese, and then probably half a cup over the top)
• 1 large egg, slightly beaten
• Taco sauce
  

Combine all ingredients and spread in a lightly greased pan or dish (I don't use a loaf pan, I prefer an 8x8). Bake for 60-70 minutes at 350. Before it was completely done, I spread a little taco sauce over the top and sprinkled with more shredded cheese.

Mexican Black Beans & Rice

OK, so this was made purely out of stuff I had on hand that I thought might work together (so by all means, play around) but it was PERFECT with the meatloaf and a salad.

• 1 cup uncooked rice (brown is healthier, so it's what I had on hand and it was quite good)
• 2 cups chicken broth (I just like rice cooked in broth better than water and I ALWAYS have chicken broth on hand because I use it in everything)
• 1 tbs Cumin
• 2 tsp dried minced onion

Cook Rice according to directions, and about about halfway through add...

• 1 can whole kernel corn, drained (I'm sure Mexicorn would be even better)
• 1 can black beans drained
• 2 tbs black bean salsa (I love the Sam's brand of this, so again "on hand", but any of it would work, or just use a bit of the taco sauce from above)

White trash as may be we love it and it's inexpensive, quick, easy, good and suprisingly healthy. My trailer just caught fire though, and my old camaro is up on blocks so I need to go...

Next week, Spam Surprise!! Just kidding ;-)