One Loaf to Love

After hearing about this meatloaf recipe from a friend, I borrowed, "Eat, Shrink & Be Merry" by Janet & Greta Podleski. This is the kind of recipe that I like to tackle and blog about. I love cooking things that are a bit out of the ordinary and taste fantastic. This recipe didn't have anything in it (except the Superburger seasoning which I had other available) that I didn't have in my cupboard regularily. It was not difficult but did take a bit of time.

Today I've had an extra baby around the house so I made this up while two kids were sleeping and stuck it in the fridge until it was time to bake it. Hubby says that this was his favorite new "meal," implying that he enjoyed all of it :) We had mashed sweet potatoes (with Herb & Garlic cream cheese) and corn with it and it was definitely a keeper.

One Loaf to Love

1c. finely diced mushrooms

1/2c. each finely diced red bell pepper, zucchini, and onion

1tsp. minced garlic

1/4 tsp. dried basil

1 1/2 lbs. extra-lean ground beef

1c. fresh bread crumbs or 1/2c. dry unseasoned bread crumbs

1/4c. +2 tsp. barbeque sauce or ketchup

1 pkg. (25g) hamburger seasoning mix (Superburger by Clubhouse was recommended)

1 egg

1/4c. chopped fresh parsley

1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper

1/2 c. packed shredded light Monterey Jack, provolone, or mozzarella

Preheat oven to 375F. Spray a medium, non-stick skillet with cooking spray. Add mushrooms, red pepper, zucchini, onions and garlic. Cook and stir over medium heat until vegetables are tender, about 5 minutes. Add basil and cook 1 more minute. Remove from heat and set aside.

In a large bowl, combine ground beef, bread crumbs, 1/4c. bbq sauce, hamburger seasoning, egg, parsley, and pepper. Mix well using your hands.

On a large sheet of waxed paper, form meat mixture into a 10x12-inch rectangle. Make sure edges are nice and straight, not jagged. Spread reserved vegetable filling over meat, leaving a 1/2" border. Sprinkle with cheese. Roll up meat loaf from the shorter end, lifting the wax paper to help get it started. Roll it as tightly as possible. Pinch seam closed.

Transfer meat loaf to a broiler pan that has been sprayed with cooking spray. Bake for 40 minutes, or until meat is cooked through and a meat thermometer inserted in the centre registers 160F.

Let meatloaf stand for 5 minutes before slicing.

Makes 1 loaf, 8 slices

204 cal. per slice, 9.3g fat, 1.6g fibre