Pancakes for dinner.

Shrove Tuesday, Fat Tuesday. Whatever you want to call it, I call it Pancake day and it’s here!

Traditionally, pancake day is the last day before the beginning of Lent. During Lent, it is customary to give up things we love (think drinking pop or alcohol, tv, or eating chocolate) so historically families would try to use up things like meat, butter, and flour, and thus the tradition of Pancake Day began. As a kid for Shrove Tuesday my family usually went to a Pancake dinner at the church, which was always an awesome excuse to see friends in the middle of the week. These days, as someone always looking for an excuse to have friends around the table, Pancake Tuesday dinners seemed like a great tradition to start in my house.

Monday musings, and meatloaf.

We are raised to believe that Mondays aren’t to be trusted.  Monday, Monday.  Can’t trust that day.  Back to work, back to school, the fun of the weekend is over….it’s just another Manic Monday after all.  But what happens  if you want to play a different tune?

Hmmm…. my positive Monday song lyric search is coming up a blank.

When I awoke, several hours before my alarm, that was all I could think of.  I’m self employed and even I was dreading Monday morning.  (Rainy days and Mondays…) I make my own schedule and still – Yikes!   Tell me why I don’t like Mondays…

So, I did what any normal adult would do (well, normal to me).  I read a cookbbook.  I made a great list of Meatless Monday ideas and then thought “now what”.  Meatloaf.

Okay.  SO not meatless….

Now I’m not a vegetarian and I don’t pretend to be.  But for many reasons I am trying to eat less meat.   Sometimes though comfort food is the way to go.  This week it was meatloaf. Meatloaf it a very personal thing with endless possible variations.   This is my go to version. Tasty and easy it also has a few hidden ingredients to up the “healthy” quotient a bit (which also makes it a great way to sneak in some vegetables at the dinner table).

Now if only Meatloaf had written a song about Mondays.

Ingredients

• 1lb lean ground beef
• 1lb lean ground turkey breast
• 2 whole eggs or 4 egg whites
• 1c. panko
• 1 c. shredded brussel sprouts or 1 c finely chopped kale
• 1 bunch italian parsley, finely chopped
• 1 small onion or 4-6 scallions, chopped
• 1 tbsp dijon mustard
• 2 tbsp worcestershire sauce
• 1-2 tsp garlic powder
• 1/4 c milk
• fresh ground pepper
• 1 tbsp maple syrup
• 2 tbsp tomato paste

Method

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Mix all ingredients, except ketchup and maple syrup, in a large bowl.
• Place mixture in a loaf pan.  Cover with tin foil and bake for 45 minutes.
• While cooking mix the tomato paste and syrup in a small bowl.
• When meatloaf has been cooking for 45 minutes, remove tin foil, spread the tomato and syrup on the top.  Bake another 5-10 minutes until sauce has crisped.

Serve with roasted vegetables and a fresh green salad.