Cheese & Mushroom Stuffed Meatloaf

Cheese and Mushroom Stuffed Meatloaf

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 medium onion, chopped

2 garlic cloves, minced

8 ounces mushrooms, sliced

1 1/2 pounds ground beef

2/3 cup fresh bread crumbs

1/2 cup minced fresh parsley

1/4 cup ketchup

1 egg beaten to blend

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

1/2 teaspoon dried thyme, crumbled

1/4 teaspoon dried sage, ground or crumbled

1 1/2 cups cheddar cheese

Heat oil in heavy skillet over medium heat. Add onion and saute until translucent, about 4 minutes. Add garlic and mushrooms. Cook until mushrooms are golden brown and liquid evaporates, stirring occasionally, about 7 minutes. Cool.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix beef and next eight ingredients in large bowl, until well blended. Turn out onto large square of plastic wrap. Pat into 9- by 12-inch rectangle. Spread mushroom filling over rectangle, leaving 1/2-inch border on all sides. Cover mushrooms evenly with cheese.

Starting at one end, roll meat up jelly-roll-fashion, using the plastic wrap as a guide. Arrange seam side down in a 9- by 5-inch loaf pan. (Can be prepared six hours ahead. Cover and refrigerate at this point).

Bake until loaf shrinks from side of pan and browns (about 1 hour). Pour off any drippings. Gently turn out loaf and let stand for 10 minutes. Cut into slices and serve.

FREEZER COOKING NOTE: You can also make this up but do not bake. Simply roll up and place in a disposal tinfoil loaf pan and freeze. Thaw in refrigerator the day before you wish to bake it.

Zuppa Tuscana Soup just like The Olive Garden

1 lb bacon

1 lb Italian sausage or bulk sausage of your choice

4-6 potatoes, diced

1 onion, chopped

2 tbsp. minced garlic

6 cups chicken stock (you can easily replace some with water as you have available – I used 4 cups stock, 2 cups water)

2 cups heavy cream (whole milk can be substituted)

1 head of kale (5-6 leaves, as desired), chopped

salt and pepper, to taste

Parmesan cheese

In a small pan, cook the bacon. Cool and crumble. In a large pot, cook the sausage, onions, and garlic until the sausage has browned. Add the potatoes and stock and bring to a boil. Once it has reached a boil, turn it down to low and simmer for 20 minutes or so, just until the potatoes are tender. Add the cream, kale, and bacon and allow to cook for 5-10 minutes. Season to taste. Top with parmesan cheese for extra flavor! Enjoy! Makes 6-8 servings. Freezes well.

Beautiful winter white morning

I awoke Saturday morning to the trees on our farm
covered in a winter white fuzzy wonderland.

The colors on these photos is not altered one bit. It is the colors
I saw...everything white, grey & fuzzy. Even the beautiful sky.

Random cuteness of Jumbi our baby kitten that is supposed to be outside! Shadow, the black & white cat is checking him out saying "I don't believe you're supposed to be here...this is my territory!"


Jumbi in my olive jar

Fat cat, Shadow telling me I don't think this is too cool Mom!

Anna on Christmas Day

I can't believe that I found this pretty dress at Goodwill this summer
for $2.95! Woo Hoo! All I added to the outfit was a white turtleneck for $3.99
from Target, her white tights and little black shoes.

Isn't she the most precious little thing?

She is always begging me to let her wear a dress. She is constantly dragging out
summer dresses and demanding she wear them to school this winter!

Lucky for me Grandma Sandy made her up a few skirts to wear. I'll post photos of those soon.

Christmas Decor Our Home

Christmas Eve Our Home 2009