Quickie Expat Meatloaf and Biscuits

 

  I don't know about you, but I'm a big fan of having kids in the kitchen.  Sure, it creates a bigger mess, and maybe slows things down a bit, but cooking as a family is something that my husband and I make a serious effort to do.  I really believe that it builds confidence while teaching kids about what's in their food (which usually gets them to eat things they might not normally be inclined to try).

 

That said, there are moments when getting a kid to eat a vegetable is like pulling teeth from a snow leopard.  When veggie strikes come up, and this expat mama is craving some "American" style food like meatloaf, it makes it pretty darn easy to sneak in some vegetables. 

 

Now we have visited meatloaf before...there's "sneaky meatloaf" and also a couple of different ways to eat meatloaf when you have leftovers...but this recipe was made on the fly on a day when I had one egg in the house, some spinach, a couple of heels of bread, and some leftover pasta sauce.  I pureed the spinach in with the sauce, toasted and blitzed the bread in the blender, and mashed it all together with the egg in a large bowl.  After that, I baked it for about 40 minutes in a 350-degree oven, and voila, dinner!  The best part?  Kyle and Laela made Laela's favorite biscuits, and voila, we had ourselves a tastylicious American style dinner that took so little effort, Laela and her Daddy wound up playing "biscuit dough" for a half hour.  Fun times.

 

For this easy peasy meatloaf, you'll need:

• 1lb ground beef/meatloaf mix
• 2 heels of bread (toasted and then crumbled in food processor/blender)
• About 1 cup of pasta sauce
• 1 cup spinach (pureed)
• 1 egg
• salt and pepper to taste

 

Wednesday I'll be sharing a super easy cupcake recipe that Laela and I like to make when we're craving cupcakes, and don't feel like making a ton of effort!

Laela's Biscuits

My child makes the best biscuits ever.  Seriously.  One day, I had all the ingredients out (but not measured), and she just started scooping and "smooshing" the ingredients together.  Let me tell you, my little 3 year old is a superstar, because baby, her biscuits are delicious.

And yes, she wears a Sleeping Beauty dress while she bakes.  Don't you?

Laela's Biscuits:

You'll need:

• 2 cups flour
• 1Tb baking powder
• 1Tb sugar
• About 1/3 cup butter
• 1 cup milk

Instructions:

• Smoosh together with your hands. 
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Farenheit. 
• Play.  Have fun.  Make goofy shapes. 
• Bake for 10 minutes.
• **Laela also stuffed some with proscuitto and cheese. (You make a pancake, fold the meat and cheese, and then wrap the dough around it.)  YUM.

Here's the snowman biscuit Laela made:

 

 

I cannot emphasize how excited and proud Laela is when she makes something all by herself.  The fact that she made this biscuit recipe up all on her own while we were cooking dinner one night, and that it came out delicious, was fantastic for her self-esteem.  I know it can be messy, and for some it can be difficult to allow anyone into the kitchen, but try it.  Invite your children into the kitchen and allow them to create.  They really might surprise you!

Thanksgiving Hors d' oeuvres Made Easy!

I can't believe it's already Thanksgiving.  I feel like Laela just got done galloping to each house in her pink pony costume for Halloween, and here I am, sitting in front of the computer, with an apartment that smells like turkey brine and pumpkin pies.  It's really beginning to seem as if the holidays are getting moved up each year.

I have to say, living in South Carolina, and preparing for the holidays is much, much different than back home in PA.  For one thing, it was 75 degrees today.  Seriously?  The idea of turkeys and Christmas trees doesn't feel entirely right without a solid crisp to the air.  Secondly, this is our first holiday without our families, so there's going to be considerably less food (although, if Kyle gets his way, not much less food.)

While it's really difficult to be away from our loved ones for the holidays, it has been nice to have some much-needed family time.  Kyle's had the week off, and it's been really nice leisurely doing things together, instead of having to cram a lot into a small amount of time.

Since Kyle works in the kind of job where you can't really eat heavy meals or have hearty snacks, he had some requests for this week.  I thought, instead of sharing Thanksgiving recipes like I did last year, I'd share some quick and easy favorites that most people seem to buy boxed or canned.  It is possible to make a deliciously simple hors d' oeuvre without going to the freezer section.  Try it!
Pigs in a Blanket

You'll need:

• 1 package mini hotdogs, or cocktail wieners (I prefer the turkey- they're less fat and you really can't tell the difference.)
• 1 sheet of puff pastry (you can also use pre-made croissant pastry if you don't have the puff pastry- the instructions are the same, except that the triangles are already cut for you.)
• Cooking Spray

Instructions:

• Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.
• Most puff pastry is already sectioned into three strips.  Separate the three strips (or cut your pastry into three even strips.
• Take each strip of pastry and cut into three even squares.
• Cut each square into two triangles.
• Once you have triangled your puff pastry, take one triangle and one mini hot dog at a time, and roll the pastry triangle over the hot dog, starting with the larger end of the triangle.
• On a greased cookie sheet (just spray the sheet well with some cooking spray) place each pig in a blanket on the sheet, 2 inches apart on the cookie sheet.
• Bake for 15- 20 minutes, or until golden brown.
• Enjoy!!

*Sometimes, as a variation, I'll spread some mustard, brie, or place a small sprinkle of cheese inside the pastry before I roll it around the hot dog.  It makes for a really yummy treat!


Bacon and Cheese Stuffed Biscuits

You'll need:

• 6 oz cheddar and/or colby jack cheese
• 4 strips of cooked bacon, chopped
• 3 cups all purpose flour
• 4Tb baking powder
• 1Tb sugar
• 1tsp salt
• 3/4 cup butter
• 1 1/4 cups milk

Instructions:

• In a large bowl, stir together the flour, baking powder, salt, sugar and cream of tartar.  Pour mixture into a food processor.
• Add butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
• Pour ingredients into a bowl.
• Add milk all at once.
• Stir just until moistened.
• Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface.
• Knead dough by gently pressing and folding for four to six strokes, or just until dough holds together.
• Don't over work your dough.  It doesn't have to look perfect.
• Pat or lightly roll dough until 3/4 inch thick.
• Cut the dough into 2 1/2 inch pieces (if using a knife or roll cutter, it helps to flour your implement)
• Using your thumb, press a small indent into the center of the roll.
• Place your cheese and crumbled bacon in the indented spot.
• Gently fold the roll around the bacon and cheese.  (Use about a teaspoon of cheese and bacon- overstuffing the roll will cause it to bubble out cheese and burn on your pan.)
• Place biscuits one inch apart on an ungreased baking sheet.
• Bake at 450 degrees for 10-12 minutes or until golden.
• Remove from baking sheet and serve immediately.
• Enjoy!!

**These biscuits are also amazing without the cheese and bacon!!

I know that these are some pretty starchy appetizers, but trust me, they're awesome!  If you're looking for something a tad healthier, try my spinach dip recipe using low fat mayo and sour cream.  Laela and Kyle scarf it up!!

Have an amazing Thanksgiving!!  And remember, it's just one day.  If you have to choose between being Martha Stewart, and spending time with your family- choose your family.  Enjoy the day.