Summer comfort meatloaf

Thank you all so much for your thoughtful comments on my last two posts. Embracing life and living for today can easily be forgotten during the more monotonous days but it resonates with all of you and that just warms my big ol' heart.

It is 84 degrees in Portsmouth tonight, I do not have AC and I chose to pre-heat the oven for my debut into cooking meatloaf. Writing these words, I wonder if I'm a partial lunatic. For one, I only like my mom's meatloaf and two, it is not winter. I like to think I just wanted to capitalize on Wednesday's day off from working out and create a new dish. Meatloaf is comfort food defined, so I guess even in the dog days of summer we all need a lil' comfort.

Speaking of dogs!! Matt's family just brought home a brand new golden retriever and named her Bella after none other than Patriots coach, Bill Belicheck!



How cute is that ball of fluff!?! eeeeeee so cute.

Anyways here are the loaf of meat* deets: adapted from here

Summer Comfort Meatloaf

Ingredients:
■1/2 medium white onion, chopped finely
■1 red bell pepper, chopped finely
■2 large carrots, grated or chopped finely
■1 lb ground turkey breast
■6 ounces of tomato/spaghetti sauce
■3/4 cup uncooked rolled oats

■1/4 cup shredded parm cheese
■2 tsp. dried oregano
■2 tsp. basil
■1/4 tsp. red pepper flakes
■2 egg whites
■2 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
■Splash of Worcestershire sauce
■Vegetable-oil cooking spray

1. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees

2. Combine all ingredients (save the cooking spray) into a bowl and mush together. Years of watching my mom mix and mush with her hands inspired me to do the same. But if you aren't that kind of gal or gent, by all means use a wooden spoon!

3. Spray the cooking spray into a loaf tin and bake in the oven at 350 degrees for about an hour

4. If you so desire, broil on high for 3 minutes to get the top and edges nice and crispy. I am going for the "Hi, my name is Joy, I have two kids and I just burnt my meatloaf again" look. (Joy is my mom)

To really transform this winter comfort food into a summer meal I nixed the standard mashed potatoes and sauteed seasonable summer squash and zucchini with a light coating of EVOO, garlic powder, sea salt and oregano and prepared a side salad with Olivia Organic's spring mix, celery, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, and feta cheese. Oooo la la!

Plate, serve, enjoy!

This is a far cry from the meatloaf I grew up eating, but I clearly wasn't trying to replicate my mom's AND it was still very good! I like knowing this is a healthier version; I will never turn down extra veggies, and the marinara sauce, oregano, basil and parm cheese really elevated the flavor.

It's a win but next time this meatloaf is prepared the temperature outside will be at least 20 degrees cooler.

Is there a comfort food that reminds you of your childhood? Have you recreated in your own kitchen?

*I apologize and will never refer to meatloaf in this way again. Ew.