Delicious Mini-Meatloaf

I made this adorable mini meatloaf dish for my family last week and they loved it.  It was pretty easy.  As far as the sauce I just mixed the ketchup, brown sugar and mustard to my desired taste.  When I make these again, I want to try some different barbecue sauces we have at home.  

Here is the recipe and the pictures are below!  This recipe is from MyBlessedLife.

• 1 egg
• 1/2 c. milk
• 1 c. cheese
• 1/2 c. oats
• 1/2 t. dried oregano
• 1/2 t. onion powder
• 1-2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 t. salt
• 1 lb. ground beef
• ketchup, mustard, raw sugar {or brown sugar}

Before you get started, preheat the oven to 350 and lightly spray a muffin pan.

In a large bowl, combine egg, milk, cheese, oats, oregano, onion powder, garlic and salt.  Add ground beef and mix well.  {Take off your rings and mix with your fingers.}

Evenly divide the meat mixture in muffin pan.  This recipe makes approximately 10 mini meatloaves.  In a small bowl, mix ketchup, a tad of mustard and a teaspoon of sugar.  Evenly divide the glaze over each mini meatloaf.

Bake, uncovered for 45 minutes or until meat is done.

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Easy Chicken Noodle Soup

I love this recipe from "MommyInCharge"!  Follow her link for instructions!   One thing I really liked is that she mentions freezing the extra soup into "toddler" size servings for later so I decided to do that!  I made a batch, froze it in muffin pans and hen put the "pucks" of soup in freezer safe containers to take to work.  I had it for lunch today and it was delish! :)  Four muffin sized servings make for an excellent lunch for an adult! :)

Brown Sugar and Balsamic Glazed Pork Loin

I am really having fun with this whole cooking kick!  Let's hope it lasts!  Here is a recipe that I cooked for New Years Eve dinner!

Ingredients:

1 (2 pound) boneless pork tenderloin (or regular pork loin)

1 teaspoon ground sage

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

1 clove garlic, crushed

1/2 cup water

Glaze

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 tablespoon cornstarch

1/4 cup balsamic vinegar

1/2 cup water

2 tablespoons soy sauce

Directions:

Combine sage, salt, pepper and garlic. Rub over roast. Place in slow cooker with 1/2 cup water. Cook on low for 6-8 hours. About 1 hour before roast is done, combine ingredients for glaze in small sauce pan. Heat and stir until mixture thickens. Brush roast with glaze 2 or 3 times during the last hour of cooking. Serve with remaining glaze on the side.

I chose some veggies to add and in hindsight I would cut up the zucchini differently next time. They were a little mushy for my taste but got the bro-in-law seal of approval!  (But he's pretty awesome, so he would support my efforts as a budding chefanista! (my word by the way) :)

I hope you enjoy it!

Julia

The Pioneer Woman's Iced Coffee Concentrate...aka-Pure Bliss!

If you are an iced coffee addict, then you  must try this recipe!  The full directions are on the Pioneer Woman-Ree Drummond's site and I would just go there to follow her delightful instructions!  Below is my first time making this iced coffee yumminess! :)

I only did half a batch so I poured half a pound of coffee into a 6 qt. container I got at a local restaurant supply store.

Then, I poured in 4 quarts of water and mixed it up with the coffee.

That just screams "YUM" to me! :)

Then I put on the pretty red cover and put it in the fridge for 8 hours.

Next, I got a large bowl and put a strainer over the top of it.

I covered the strainer with cheese cloth as recommended by Ree and it did make a huge difference!  There were no grounds in my concentrate at all!

Let the pouring begin!

Once I had all the contents in the large bowl, I transferred it to a container that would easily fit in the fridge.

I filled up a cup with ice, poured in enough of the concentrate to fill half the cup.

I added some Coffee-mate and voila!  A delicious iced coffee treat at a fraction of the price!

Enjoy!

Julia