Getting kids in the kitchen...
...and our family favorite meatloaf
If you’ve been reading the newsletter for any time at all (not that it’s been in existance all that long), you’ve probably seen in our weekly mealplans that I try to get the Kiddo in the kitchen every once in a while planning and cooking (with assistance!) dinner.
It’s been really fun! But also this…
It’s something my brother and I were required to do - once a week, we had to plan dinner, add our items to the grocery list, and cook. It was by no means gourmet. I’m pretty sure frozen fried chicken and box mac ‘n cheese made an appearance on the regular, but I’m also pretty sure that wasn’t the point. The lesson was in learning to think about and plan a meal and in getting comfortable in the kitchen. And it’s a lesson we will both be forever grateful for. (I know my sister-in-law sure appreciates that my brother helps with the cooking!)
One of my favorite early cooking memories involves Dad and I being tasked with making the meatloaf for dinner. He had us pretending we were mad scientists, and we had to mix together our experiment. What a way to get a little girl elbow-deep in a big bowl of ground beef!
So, let’s get our kids in the kitchen! They’ll learn so many lessons, and we’ll learn to embrace the mess.
As a related aside, I’ve been volunteering with a local non-profit helping to teach a cooking class, and we are getting ready to start a once a month kids version for the homeschool community! I’m currently making lists of kid-friendly snacks and meals for the group to make together, but I’d love to hear from you if you have any ideas!
Also, if you’re wanting to get your own kiddos in the kitchen more, I came across this website from Run Wild My Child with great information on the benefits of having them help out with cooking, age appropriate “jobs”, and lots of easy recipes and ideas!
Now back to our regularly scheduled programming and this week’s recipe - our Family Favorite Meatloaf. Ladies and Gentlemen, this one is a winner. I’ve even had non-meatloaf eaters tell me they love it!
This meatloaf (actually meatloaves because bonus - it makes two!) stays moist and juicy with the combination of beef and pork and the addition of buttermilk. Topped with a traditional ketchup and brown sugar glaze, it’s perfect alongside mashed potatoes and peas. (Are you a peas in a potato nest or peas on the side kind of person?)
My personal notes - stash your extra meatloaf in the freezer for when you need a night off (even the extra ketchup sauce freezes!) and leftover meatloaf sandwiches are highly encouraged.
So grab your kids and your lab coats and get your “meatloaf mad science” on!
MONDAY - BBQ Pork Chops, Mac ‘n Cheese, Green Beans
I’ll have to check the weather and decide if it’s grilled pork chops or baked, but either way the combination of anything with bbq sauce and mac ’n cheese is one of my favorites. I have a bag of frozen green beans for an easy side.
TUESDAY - Sheet Pan Citrus-Herb Chicken and Potatoes, Salad
Fresh citrus and herbs make a bright sauce for skin-on chicken breasts that will roast on the same pan as a scattering of diced gold potatoes. 45 minutes to a mostly hands-off dinner!
WEDNESDAY - Creamy Tortellini and Sausage Skillet, Asparagus
Frozen cheese tortellini are something we pretty much always have on hand. I’ll brown a pound of ground sausage with onion and garlic, then add some canned diced tomatoes, a little broth and heavy cream, and plenty of parmesan cheese to make a delicious (and easy!) meat sauce.
THURSDAY - Slow Cooker Sesame Chicken, White Rice, Broccoli
I have some frozen chicken breasts I need to use, and I thought something Asian-inspired would compliment our other meals this week. I’ll start with this recipe I found and add some steamed broccoli for the side.
FRIDAY - Friday night pick-up!
SATURDAY - Dinner at Dad’s
So happy for the return of grilling season! After spending weekend days working in the garden and yard, some easy burgers and corn on the cob will be just what we want!
SUNDAY - Dinner at Yaya’s (the in-law’s!)
Steak, baked potatoes, and salad for my husband’s birthday! (It’s birthday season around here…)
LUNCHES for this week -
Back to some “bowls”. I’ll cook a batch of quinoa and roast some veggies to make grain bowls this week. I can add different fresh toppings and dressings to change it up for whatever I feel like.
EXTRAS for this week
Another birthday means more cake! Husband has requested cupcakes - yellow or white cake and chocolate frosting. We all loved the Red Velvet Cake from Divas Can Cook that I made last week, so I think I’ll look at her recipes again and see what eles looks good.
Family Favorite Meatloaf
Makes two meatloaves.
· 3 pounds lean Ground Beef
· 1 pound Ground Pork
· 2 Eggs
· 2 large cloves Garlic, minced
· 1 tablespoon Italian Seasoning
· 1 teaspoon kosher Salt (Morton or other store brand)
· ½ teaspoon ground Black Pepper
· ½ cup Whole Milk
· ½ cup Buttermilk
· 2 packages dry Onion Soup Mix (such as Lipton)
· 2 cups fresh Bread Crumbs (see note below)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees and arrange a rack in the middle position. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with foil, and coat with non-stick spray.
In a large bowl, combine eggs, garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, milk, buttermilk, dry soup mixes, and breadcrumbs. Mix until well combined and let rest for 10 minutes.
Stir in the ground beef and ground pork, mixing well. (I find that gloved hands work best.)
Divide the mixture in half and form two loaves side-by-side on your prepared baking sheet.
Bake for 30 minutes. Glaze the tops of both meatloaves with half of the ketchup glaze (see below), reserve the other half of the glaze for serving. Return the meatloaves to the oven for another 15 minutes or until a meat thermometer reads 160 degrees.
Let rest 5 minutes before slicing. Serve with the rest of the ketchup glaze on the side.
NOTE: Soft, fresh breadcrumbs work best. Use your food processor to finely chop a cheap loaf of white bread. Extra breadcrumbs can be stored in the freezer.
Ketchup Glaze
· 1 ½ cups Ketchup
· 2 tablespoons Dijon Mustard
· ½ cup Brown Sugar
· ½ tablespoon Worcestershire Sauce
Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl and stir until well mixed. Set aside until needed.
The meatloaf IS very tasty -- and I wouldn't touch meatloaf with a 10-foot pole when I was a kid!