Meatloaf Monday

You know all those "Meatless Monday" posts around the internet today? Well, for the meat lovers out there feeling neglected, here's a special treat: meatloaf! Meatloaf?? Yes, the unassuming loaf of meat. Elicitor of many an upturned nose from child and adult alike. Not especially photogenic or abundant in plate appeal, meatloaf can get a bad rap. Here to turn that frown upside down is this recipe (which-surprise!-includes veggies hidden inside) adapted from here. Without further ado… Meatfull Monday!

Ingredients:

1 pound ground beef 

1 zucchini, diced

4 oz. button mushrooms

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 yellow onion, diced

2 tablespoons dried basil

2 tablespoons dried parsley

1 teaspoon garlic powder

Salt and pepper to taste

Note, the original recipe calls for zucchini and mushrooms, but I went with broccoli and carrots instead. Be adventurous with your veggie mix-ins!

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400°. Simmer onion and garlic in a skillet over medium heat. Once the onions begin to become translucent, add vegetables and cover to let steam. Once vegetables are fully softened, add in parsley, basil, garlic powder and salt and pepper. Mix well and remove from stove to cool. Next is my favorite part: combine the cooled vegetable mixture with your raw ground beef in a bowl and squish it all together with your hands. This will feel a lot like massaging a brain (so I imagine). Line a bread pan in parchment paper and place brain--I mean, meat mixture into pan and press in firmly. Bake for about 50-55 minutes.

Before you go assuming this is now a weekly anti-vegetarian series, fear not. I don't love beef that much.

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