Doin' Some Cooking... Glazed Meatloaf

Little Man's only request this week for dinner was totally random. Meatloaf. Where the hell did he get this idea from?

"Really, meatloaf?!!" I cringed.

Serious faced and waving his hand at me, "You don't know what meatloaf is? It's just a burger patty with ketchup on it."

I have never made meatloaf and still have a bad taste in my mouth for it since my childhood. Maybe because Grandma overplayed the dried out loaf. Sorry, but the lady could not cook and it showed up on our plates every Sunday when we visited her. Nothing comforting about it.

This is much more sophisticated than what I recall. I pulled out a big girl kitchen appliance to whip this up. Hello food processor! You should have seen my counter top which had ingredients from one end to the other, but don't let the long list of ingredients discourage you from giving this recipe a try.

Seasoned ground beef and pork gets shaped into a log with the help of a small baking dish and gets basted with a slightly spicy ketchup glaze and baked for 40 minutes.

My mind has been forever changed on meatloaf. Might even live life on the edge and try a meatloaf sandwich for the first time tomorrow. Thank you Little Man for the great dinner idea!

Glazed Meatloaf

Adapted From: Eatocracy

Makes 6-8 Servings

Stars of the Show:

For the Glaze:

• 1 cup ketchup
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 2 1/2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 1/2 tsp hot sauce

For the Meatloaf:

• 2 tsp canola oil
• 1 tbsp onion powder
• 1 tbsp garlic powder
• 17 saltine crackers
• 1/3 cup 2% milk
• 1 lb lean ground beef
• 1 lb ground pork
• 2 large eggs + 1 egg yolk
• 2 tsp Dijon mustard
• splash of soy sauce
• splash of lemon juice
• 1/2 tsp dried thyme
• 1/3 cup dried parsley
• salt and pepper, to taste

And Action:

To make the glaze, combine all glaze ingredients in a saucepan over medium and stir until brown sugar dissolves and sauce thickens. Turn to low until ready to use.

Add all of the meatloaf ingredients in the food processor and pulse until well combined. 

Spray a baking dish with nonstick spray and spread the meatloaf mix into the dish. Broil for 5 minutes. Brush about 2 tbsp of the glaze on top of the meatloaf and broil another 2 minutes.

Turn the oven to 350 degrees, top the meatloaf with the rest of the glaze, and bake until meatloaf registers 160 degrees, about 40-45 minutes. If time permits, transfer to a cutting board, tent with foil, and let rest for 20 minutes. Slice and serve.

Livin' It Up... It's A WonderFall Life

The one room I never decorate for the holidays is the bathroom. I'm not sure why that is? I spend about an hour every morning getting ready so what not bring the cozy feel of the holidays into the bathroom as well?

Bring the aroma of Fall in with a spiced pumpkin candle from Yankee Candle and a spiced cake reed diffuser from Pier 1 Imports. Speaking of aroma, oh em gee! You have to smell the Pumpkin Pecan Waffles hand soap from Bath & Body Works, it is so delicious smelling but not good for the waistline because it makes me crave sweets. I found the perfect soap dispenser for my hand soap from Pier 1 Imports, see below.

For ambiance I filled a lantern filled with mini beaded pumpkins, gold painted acorns, pine cones, and a strand of lights (next time I will use amber lights or something muted, I didn't realize these were LED lights until I got home). It would make for the perfect night light if we actually used night lights. I could see using it for that purpose if I had a guest over.

Also picked up a bouquet from Whole Foods and placed a sugar pumpkin on top of a candle holder that I purchased from Pier 1 Imports.

No more neglecting the bathroom for the holidays.

Doin' Some Cooking... Blueberry & Pomegranate Chia Oats Breakfast Parfait

We've all been told that breakfast is the most important meal of the day but most days I think sleep trumps that notion. I'm generally rushing through my morning getting lunches packed, putting on my face (hello! foundation and mascara), convincing Little Man that I let him sleep until the last possible minute and that we really only have 5 minutes before we have to leave, and then before we make it out the door realizing that breakfast was an afterthought and I end up at work with a grumbly tummy. Every. Damn. Day.

Worse than skipping breakfast is having something to eat that is just... meh! 

With a little planning you can give your body what it needs to start the day.

These Blueberry & Pomegranate Chia Oats Breakfast Parfaits are made with all natural ingredients, packed full of antioxidants, essential fatty acids, magnesium, manganese, calcium, with lots of protein and prepared in an untraditional way. 

Oats and chia seeds are soaked which means more of the nutritious benefits stick around rather than breaking down when they're cooked on the stovetop. 

Although, with the weather cooling off here in Texas a cold breakfast isn't comforting like a big bowl of piping hot oatmeal. This is definitely a recipe to keep in the arsenal for those Summer mornings. Nonetheless, it's definitely worth a try no matter what the thermometer reads and the soaked oats are just a blank canvas for you to get creative with fruit toppings of your choice. 

Blueberry & Pomegranate Chia Oats Breakfast Parfait

Adapted From: Pure Ella

Makes 2 Servings

Stars of the Show:

• 1/2 cup steel cut oats
• 2 tbsp chia seeds
• 1 cup light coconut milk
• 1 tbsp honey
• 1/4 cup pomegranate arils
• 1/4 cup blueberries

And Action:

The night before, in a mason jar or air tight container, mix in oats, chia seeds, and coconut milk. Seal the jar and place in the refrigerator overnight.

In the morning layer a container with the oat mix and fresh fruit. Enjoy!

Doin' Some Cookin'... Pomegranate Blueberry Green Tea Smoothie

It seems like everyone around me is sick. I've been taking the necessary precautions to avoid catching whatever is going around, not touching my face, your face, washing my hands, hoping you've washed yours, and popping Vitamin C and garlic supplements.

Call it the "placebo effect" if you will, but I'm a big believer that since we've switched our diets to mostly organic and steering clear of most processed foods (everything in moderation, though) I've noticed we haven't been sick all year. Knock on wood. I chalk it up to Whole Paycheck Foods.

There's something about shopping there that makes me feel healthy. Every weekend we go on Sunday and I try my best to stick to the shopping list, however, I'm a sucker for new items and whenever I see another shopper I can't help but see what they're grabbing. Sometimes I feel like I just have to have what they're having but then I don't know what to do with that item most times.

Case in point, a Whole Foods container labeled "Antioxidant Blend" from the produce aisle with a mix of pomegranate arils and blueberries. As a kid my Aunt Debby would cut open pomegranates for us during the Summer and we'd pick those arils out until our fingers were stained red. I loved them just as they were Now, the texture of those arils is gritty and I don't enjoy popping them like I use to. What was I going to do with this mix?

I don't know about you but I got a guy. His name is Google. He's got the best ideas, gives great advice, knows everything, and is pretty darn reliable.

Came across this recipe for a Pomegranate Blueberry Green Tea Smoothie and knew I had to try this since I had everything on hand. By the way, why do I even have matcha green tea powder?

This smoothie is sweet, tart, and filling, keeping you full until after lunchtime and is packed full of antioxidants, protein, and a natural kick of caffeine to help fight off the flu.

Pomegranate Blueberry Green Tea Smoothie

Adapted From: Tillamook

Makes 1 Serving

Stars of the Show:

• 1 (5.3 oz) container Fage 0% Blueberry Acai yogurt
• 1/2 cup frozen blueberries
• 1/2 tsp matcha green tea powder
• 1/4 cup pomegranate blueberry juice

And Action:

Pulse all ingredients in a blender until desired consistency. Enjoy!

Doin' Some Cookin'... Potato-Crusted Pizza

Tator tots create a fun kid-friendly crust that makes for a light meal and one that's easy enough for the little ones to join you in the kitchen.

Potato-Crusted Pizza

Adapted from: Southern Living Magazine, September 2014

Makes 6 Servings

Stars of the Show:

• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 (30 oz) package frozen tator tots
• 1 (28 oz) can diced tomatoes, drained
• 1 (1 oz) package fresh basil, torn
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

And Action:

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Brush a baking sheet with olive oil and arrange tator tots in a single layer in pan. Bake 10 minutes. Flatten tator tots with the back of a wooden spoon until rounds touch and cover the entire baking sheet. Bake 10 minutes more or until crisp. Top with remaining ingredients. Bake 5-10 minutes more or until cheese melts. 

Doin' Some Cookin'... Mediterranean Turkey Burgers

I'll never forget the first time I had Greek food. It was a gyro from the mall. I followed my older brother's lead and copied his order. It came with fries and a side of tzatziki sauce for dipping. That sauce was crave worthy and I'd look for excuses to head to the mall just so I could swing over and get that meal. If I wasn't in public I would have licked that sauce cup clean.

I should have learned how to make gyros and tzatziki. I could have saved a lot of money and weight from my hips, waist, thighs, and, and. 

A coworker dropped off a stack of food magazines at my desk one day and that night I took them home and set them on the ottoman to flip through later but Little Man beat me to them. He came across a recipe, ripped it out of the magazine, and requested that we make these Mediterranean Turkey Burgers as soon as possible. I posted the recipe on our family calendar and added the ingredients to our weekly grocery list. 

We made a plan to make these burgers for dinner tonight and I'm sorry I made him wait so long because they are amazing. Of course these burgers aren't authentically Greek but they have a mix of flavors that are quintessentially Greek. Homemade tzatziki sauce adds moisture and tang to these burgers. They are easy to make, incredibly delicious, healthy, and protein packed. I can't wait to make these again. 

Since I finished all my dinner it's now time for dessert and getting cozy on the couch to watch the movie, Get Him To The Greek. See, I told you I'm a sucker for all things "Mediterranean". Ha!

Mediterranean Turkey Burgers

Adapted from: Food Network Magazine July/August 2014

Makes 4 Servings

Stars of the Show:

• 1 (7 oz) container nonfat plain greek yogurt (about 3/4 cup)
• 1/3 cup black pepper crumbled feta cheese (about 2 oz)
• 1 cucumber, seeds removed and cubed
• 2 tbsp fresh mint, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• sea salt and black pepper
• 1 lb lean ground turkey
• 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
• 4 sesame hamburger buns or potato rolls, split and toasted
• lettuce and tomato slices, for topping, optional
• potato chips, for serving, optional

And Action:

Combine yogurt, feta, cucumber, mint, half of the garlic, few grinds of salt and pepper in a small bowl. Refrigerate until serving.

Combine the turkey, remaining garlic, few grinds of salt and pepper in a medium bowl. Form into 4 (4 oz) patties. Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the olive oil, then add the patties and cook until browned and cooked through, 4-5 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate.

Spread the yogurt sauce on the buns, top with turkey burger, lettuce and tomato, if desired. Serve with potato chips. Enjoy!

Doin' Some Cooking... Veggie Pad Thai

Is "Meatless Monday" still a thing? 

Little Man can do without meat so making meals that keep him well feed and happy isn't always easy. But there are some dishes that we can agree on and generally anything with pasta is something we can agree on. 

Pad Thai is a guilty pleasure but it's such a gut bomb and I always regret ordering it when I go out. It's calorie-heavy due to thick sauce, peanuts, and noodles. 

Try this healthier version of the tasty Thai classic that takes less than 30 minutes to prepare, however, please add more flair to yours with additional ingredients that Rachael Ray left out of her version. This was a good base recipe but kinda bland and blah which was perfect for Little Man. Next time... chili sauce, shredded carrots, green onions, cilantro, and mung beans added. You can really customize this for whatever suits your taste. 

If "Meatless Monday" is a thing of the past then feel free to add shrimp, chicken, or tofu, if that's your thing. 

Veggie Pad Thai

Adapted From: Every Day with Rachael Ray

Makes 4 Servings

Stars of the Show:

• 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
• 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
• 5 tsp fish sauce
• 2 tbsp lime juice
• 6 oz flat rice noodles
• 6 oz snow peas, trimmed - Cut into bite size pieces, if desired. 
• 2 tbsp canola oil
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 1/4 cup unsalted peanuts

And Action:

In a small bowl, whisk together brown sugar, balsamic vinegar, fish sauce, and lime juice. 

Cook the noodles according to the package directions, add the snow peas during the last minute of cooking.

Meanwhile, in a large nonstick skillet, heat the oil over medium high heat and add the egg. Stir gently until set, about 45 seconds. Add the noodles, snow peas, peanuts, and sauce. Stir to incorporate. Enjoy!

Doin' Some Cookin'... Tuna Puttanesca with Penne

There are certain ingredients I gravitate towards. Capers and kalamata olives are a few of those ingredients, however, Little Man does not share the same tastes as me so I tend to save recipes I want to try that I know Little Man won't enjoy until the weekend for a mommy only lunch. He sticks to his usual, a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

Tuna Puttanesca with Penne makes for a delicious and slightly spicy Italian lunch. I love tuna with pasta and this is one of those meals that tastes like it simmered on the stove for hours when it came together in less than 30 minutes and is a healthier pasta choice.

Tuna Puttanesca with Penne

From: Everyday with Rachael Ray

Makes 4 Servings

Stars of the Show:

• salt
• 1 lb penne 
• 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 2 (6 oz) cans of olive packed tuna, drained
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
• 3 tbsp capers, drained
• 1/3 cup kalamata olives, halved
• 1 (28 oz) can diced Italian tomatoes
• handful flat leaf parsley, chopped

And Action:

Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Salt the water, add the penne, and cook according to package directions. Drain. 

While the pasta is working, heat a deep skillet with the olive oil. Add the tuna, flaking it with a wooden spoon. Add the garlic and pepper flakes and cook for 3-4 minutes. Stir in the capers and olives and heat until warmed through, about 1 minute. Stir in the tomatoes and parsley, lower the heat a little and simmer for 5 minutes.

Add the pasta to the sauce and toss well to incorporate. 

Livin' It Up... Halloween Decorations

As mentioned in my prior post, during my mom's visit she wanted to go to Hobby Lobby to get supplies for an art project with Little Man. I had a list of ideas and supplies to get while we were there for some Halloween decorations.

$100 later and I had everything I needed to make 7 Halloween crafts. Over the course of the week I'd work on the projects up to the minute before heading out for trick-or-treating. I didn't care that they'd only be displayed until that night because I was determined to get them done, well at least 5 of them were completed in time. 

Here's what I made:

- Footprint Ghost and Handprint Spider 

- Felt bats that I made flying out of the laundry room. Next year I'd like to have some hanging from the ceiling and differing sizes to make it look more realistic. 

- Gothic Lace Votive Holders... these were a pain in the ass to make but look really good with the lights dimmed. The blog I got the inspiration for these at made it sound so simple to make... just wrap and sew the black lace around a votive holder. One little problem, I don't know how to sew. After my first attempt at sewing I said screw it and ended up hot gluing the fabric to the votive holders. 

- Spiders. As a kid I would sit on my grandparents porch in Utah and watch the daddy long legs crawl around. The way they moved fascinated me. Now I kill any spider I see in the house. Who am I?!?! These spiders are made with some black glitter hot glue and the thickest gauge black jewelry wire I could find and cut into 4-5 inch pieces. The larger sized spiders are my favorite. 

- Mason Jar Luminaries that turned out nothing like the inspiration that encouraged this project. Anyway, this project is the reason I am going to start saving all of the glass jars I come across going forward. These luminaries are mod podged with tissue paper and the rim is coated with glitter. If I ever move into a house I plan on finding large jars and using white tissue paper and making ghosts to line the porch for a frightfully fun and festive touch. 

... and here's what I purchased from Pier 1 Imports, my favorite home decor store!!!:

Of course we carved pumpkins too. That was Little Man's request. We went to Dewberry Farm, paid almost $50 for admission, and then another $50 for 3 "perfect" pumpkins picked out by Little Man alone. Next year we'll stay closer to home and just go to Old MacDonald Farm. Same concept, smaller in size though, but cheaper. With the pumpkins, he drew on the face and we did the carving. He was so proud and so were we. 

We also visited The Mudpie Company and painted our pottery. Here's a before and after of my mug.

Livin' It Up... E.T. Costume

Halloween can be a challenge when deciding what to be with so many great costumes and ideas. I can no longer walk into a costume shop and find something that isn't slutty or one of a kind, which means, homemade. I tend to lean towards pop-culture inspired costumes. Halloween 2012 I was the girl from the SunDrop commercial and Halloween 2013 I was the Energizer Bunny. I've been told I outdid myself with 2012's costume and won a cash prize that year at work.

My job hosts an annual costume contest and the competition has really gotten fierce, especially with fresh faces each year. I work with a very talented group of individuals who are so creative! This year the Headless Horseman, Miss Piggy, and Minions showed up. My costume wasn't prize worthy but I did place 3rd as Elliott from the iconic movie, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982). Yes, before my time and not a costume the younger generations appreciate.

I got a lot of compliments while taking Little Man trick-or-treating and that was reward enough for the effort put into my costume. I've made my costumes every year since being hired at my job but Little Man prefers store-bought. I'm okay with that because it's easy. I can't wait for him to request a costume that can't be store-bought though.

After shopping at 3 stores I had all of the supplies needed to make my costume. If you want to recreate the costume you'll need a red hoodie, bike handle bars, milk crate, a pillow, white sheet, cardboard, and a poster size print of an E.T. image. The more supplies you have on hand the cheaper it'll be obviously. The hoodie, bike handle bars, and E.T. print cost about $70. I know, I know. Homemade costumes can be so much more expensive but they are worth it because of the creativity and one of a kind factor.