Meatloaf

Weather: 75 degrees, sunny, and a bit of a breeze
Preparation time: 10 minute prep with 45 minute cooking

Yes it is warm, but as I was leaving this morning I looked to see what we had and decided to take out some ground pork for dinner. I haven't really made anything with ground pork except for the ravioli's for Christmas every year (yes you will hear about those in about seven months). So, I didn't really know what to make and I figured meatloaf would be good.

Now, I found a recipe for meatloaf muffins a few months back and I love them! They are just so much fun! Really, it's just a meatloaf recipe and you put it into little muffin tins instead. The nice part of this is that they cook faster; and did I mention they are fun? I am also a fan of meatloaf because I love to get my hands into things and what better feeling is there in the world other than squishing meatloaf between the fingers! It's so stress-relieving!

Preheat oven to 350.

So, you throw in 1 pound ground meat (pork in this case) into a bowl. Add on top of that a little less than a cup of bread crumbs (I never really measure, I just eyeball). Then put in two eggs, salt, pepper, chopped onion, about 2/3 cups milk, and mix together (this is where you squish it all together) until thoroughly combined. Split the meat mixture between the muffin tins and pat down. Depending on your muffin tin you may want to spray non-stick. My pans are brand new and have a great coating and don't need it.

Next, mix together 3 parts ketchup, one part brown sugar, and one part mustard. Spoon this on top of the meatloaf muffins. I sometimes double this so that I can heat it up and use it as a topping once they are out of the oven as well.

Once the topping is on, put in the oven for 45 minutes.

Now, while this is cooking, I take the opportunity to wash the preparation dishes and make side dishes. (Tonight it was corn and mashed potatoes). Then, I sit back and relax until the timer goes off!

So, how does it score:
Appropriate for weather: 3. It was warm tonight and 45 minutes of the oven on is just a little too much; add to that the stove top preparation of mashed potatoes and it's warm city!
Filling: 5!
Healthy: 5
Ease: 3. This is really a recipe that you need to be comfortable with eyeballing measurements and adding according to your taste; some people aren't comfortable with this. It also can make quite a mess and become overwhelming with the process, especially in a small kitchen with not much workspace.