Sneaky Meatloaf

I came up with this recipe to try to sneak veggies in on Jase, who is NOT a veggie eater. I just threw a bunch of veggies together and mixed it in with his meat so that he wouldn't taste it! It's basically a traditional meatloaf, just using ground turkey instead of ground beef, and NO KETCHUP. Some people, my mother included, love ketchup and use it in their meatloaf, but I don't like ketchup and don't eat it, (it's nothing philosophical, I just think it tastes nasty...haha), so I don't use it. If your kids will run at the site of veggies, then, by all means, douse theirs with ketchup! lol.

This recipe feeds Josh, Jase, and I, but if you have a larger family, bigger appetites, or like leftovers, then just double it. I don't always use the same veggies either. I always use onions, but sometimes sub the carrots and/or bell pepper for squash, chopped fresh spinach, or whatever other veggies that I may have on hand at the time.

1lb ground turkey meat
Approx 1/2-1 cup finely chopped carrots
Approx 1 cup chopped onions
Approx 1/2-1 cup finely chopped bell pepper
1 egg
1/4 cup bread crumbs or crushed cracker crumbs
1 envelope dry onion soup mix
1-2 tsp garlic (to your tastes)
1 Tbsp Thyme (opt.)
1 Tbsp Oregano (opt.)
Salt & Pepper (to your tastes)
1 can Italian style diced tomatoes

Mix all ingredients except tomatoes together thoroughly in a mixing bowl with your hands or a fork. Form into a "meatloaf" shape in a small casserole dish. Pour tomatoes over meatloaf, then refill the tomato can halfway with water and pour this half can of water around the sides of the meatloaf. Place coarsely chopped potatoes, carrots, or any other vegetable of your choice around the meatloaf in the pan. Bake @ 400 degrees for approximately 1 hour.

Simplifying Life

Sooooo I'm thinkin' that this week is going to be all about simplification. I'm looking at our closet right now and seeing clothes and shoes that Josh and I haven't worn in FOREVER (if I've worn them at all!). Why is it, that no matter how many outfits that a person has, you still wear the same things all of the time. (Unless you're like some crazy rich celebrity that never wears the same thing twice, however, I, unfortunately, do not fit into this category). So, alas, I will be letting go of the pairs of jeans that I intended to wear 15 pounds from now because, 15 pounds from now, I'm sure I'd rather go shopping than wear the jeans that have been hanging in my closet for a few years. I'm also gonna let go of the clothes on the other end of the spectrum...the fat girl clothes. Lord knows I don't ever wanna fit into those again. And the shoes...jeepers gracious I have a ton of shoes! And I wear the same ones all of the time! Josh just has t-shirts out the wazoo that he doesn't wear like, ever. He still has shirts from Cesar Chavez Middle School and Hillsboro High...and he hasn't worked either place in years. I know you like to mow the lawn in them, honey, but really, do you need like 10 shirts to mow the lawn in? Time to simplify, my friends, time to simplify.

As bad as he hates it, Jase will be simplifying, too. We've gotta get "Hurricane Playroom" at bay or I fear that it will ravage the entire east side of our house. We'll keep the sentimental stuff, ditch the crap, and keep the stuff he plays with. I'm nearly positive, though, that when we get to the "ditch the crap" stage, Jase will have to be absent. He's my little hoarder. However, Thursday he will be seeing the Karate Kid with Granny....so, Thursday, my plans will commence. :)

Landry is gonna simplify by ditching the bottles this week. It's time. He drinks from the sippy, but likes his milk in a bottle. That's his "comfort food." haha...but, starting today, milk will be in the sippy, too. Big boy time at the Hollingsworth house!

Mission Simplification is Officially Underway!