Savory Meatloaf

Cool Fall temps are upon us and it's time to make some comfort food that won't make you break into a sweat when you cook it or eat it.  I am on a Basil kick, so there's a generous amount of that in the mix, plus hidden spinach - always good if you have kids who deny you the opportunity of seeing them eat veggies. The men in my life love this! Note, this can easily become two meals depending on the number at your table. Otherwise, this will truly feed a crowd.

MEATLOAF INGREDIENTS:
2 lbs 85% ground beef or turkey at room temp
2 medium Vadalia (sweet) onions, diced
2 eggs
2 cups Italian bread crumbs
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup ketchup
1 pkg frozen spinach, defrosted and squeezed dry
1/4 cup fresh basil, sliced
1/2 cup fresh Italian (flat) parsley, roughly chopped
Kosher salt to taste
Ground pepper to taste

PREP STEPS:
1. Mix all ingredients except the bread crumbs, when fully combined add the crumbs (use hands)
2. Form the mixture into a brick shape and set it inside a large baking dish 9 x 12 or larger (you will need at least an inch margin around the loaf)
3. Bake at 350 in preheated oven for 1 hour. Tent the dish if loaf top looks too brown. Bake another 30 minutes or til insides are cooked. (I sliced "the brick" in thirds to let the heat in and uncovered it  for this last part)

GRAVY?
While loaf is doing its thing, sauté 3/4 cups sliced mushrooms in extra virgin olive oil and drain. Leave on paper towel to add later. Get that oil off those shrooms!

1. In a large skillet, melt one stick of unsalted butter along with 3 cubes of beef bouillon (or similar product like "Better Than Bouillon"), whisk in 3+TBSP Wondra in order to make consistency of sand and briefly boil for a minute
2. Add 2 cans of Campbell's Beef Consume and, using a can to measure - add  another 1 1/4 cans of beef broth, add the mushrooms and sprinkle of kosher salt
3. Bring to boil, add 1/8 to 1/4 cup heavy cream and simmer for 20 minutes. Keep covered til ready to serve - stir frequently

We served this with mashed potos and it was a big hit! I love all the hidden healthy ingredients.
Spot? Sorry no paws. She mistakenly heard me chopping the onions and skee-daddled, silly hound!

Yummy Coffee Cake

Ah nostalgia! When our son informed me that he was craving something brown-sugary, I remembered a recipe for coffee cake that I had not made in his life time.  I wasn't even sure where to find it, but I did! Here it is. Both men in my life declare this delicious. I sure won't wait 17 years til next time.

INGREDIENTS
1/2 cup butter
1 cup sugar
2 beaten eggs
1 tsp baking powder
2 cups flour
1 cup sour cream
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp soda

HOW
Cream sugar and butter, add eggs, sour cream and vanilla. Then add all dry ingredients and blend well. Batter will be thick. Spoon half the batter into a well-buttered and floured bundt pan. Sprinkle half the topping (below) then the remaining batter and finish with remaining topping. Bake at 350 for 40-45 minutes.

TOPPING (mix well)
3 TBSP melted butter
2/3 cups brown sugar
1 1/2 TBSP cinnamon
1 cup chopped walnuts

Spot gives this 3 paws because we wouldn't let her lick the bowl or even have a taste. She knows it is really worth 4. But she still sits at our feet with high hopes.

Stuffed Garlic Bread

Saw a version of this reposted by someone on Face Book last week. Shared this recipe only to myself so I could try it without announcing my every thought on social media and thus caused five days of posts that no one else saw. :)

Turns out it was worth it. This bread is yum-licious! We served it tonight along with a new recipe for Hamburger Soup. I will do this again when it's colder and we make spaghetti or lasagna for sure...or more Hamburger Soup!

INGREDIENTS:
1 loaf of rosemary bread (from Target bakery) unsliced
1 stick unsalted butter, melted
5 TBSP minced onions (I used white and Videla - use less if you don't like the zippy taste)
8 tsp or more grated garlic cloves (we love garlic)
1 1/2 TBSP Dijon mustard
1/3 cup chopped fresh Italian parsley
12+ oz freshly shredded Parmesan and mixed Italian cheese

HOW TO:
1. Mix all the ingredients except the bread and cheeses in a small bowl to form a paste.
2. Cut the bread into cubes using "X" slices without cutting all the way through. I cut diagonal lines one way, then rotated the bread and cut more the other way.
3. Paste the buttery-garlic mixture into each slice and crevice, baste the top of the loaf.
4. Do the same with the cheeses (other cheeses will also work)
5. Wrap the loaf tightly in foil and bake for 20 minutes at 350. Unwrap and cook another 10 minutes or until cheese melts.

Don't you think the parsley and garlic make this healthy?!! Spot gives this 1 paw because I only dropped a few shreds of parmesan on the floor by accident. She didn't notice me mincing the onion.  Zippy!