Meat Loaf with Roasted Squash

Cooking during the week can be a challenge, especially if you work all day and come home to some hungry family members.  During the week, I like to cook quick meals that does not require too much effort or require a long clean up.  It's the tale end of winter, (even though it still feels like winter) you can still take advantage of roasting a squash.  It's a great side dish to any meal.  Check it out..

Ingredients (Meatloaf);
2lbs pork, veal and beef ground meat
1 Tbsp Salt
1 tsp pepper fresh ground
1 shallot or small onion, finely chopped
1 egg
4 Tbsp bread crumbs
1 Tbsp rosemary, finely chopped
1 Tbsp thyme (or about 4 sprigs)
2 Tbsp ketchup
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Add all the above ingredients into a bowl, mix, incorporating all the ingredients.

Place the mixture into a loaf pan.  Once the loaf is in the oven, cut the squash in half.

Clean out the seeds from the inside.

Place the squash in a pan, adding a little bit of water to cover the bottom of the pan.

Add 1/2 tsp butter, salt and pepper.  Roast in the oven about an hour with the meatloaf.

Thyme 2 Taste.....

TIP: You can add another vegetable like asparagus, a salad, etc.

Apple Sharlotka

In the November issue of Food & Wine Magazine, a recipe for apple cake caught my eye.  It looked delicious.  It also reminded me of the delicate desserts my grandmother used to make for us when we were little.  So I thought I would give it a shot and it reminded my of my childhood.  With a few modifications, it was exactly what I thought it would be.

Ingredients;
4 Granny Smith apples - peeled, quartered and thinly sliced
1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
1 cup sugar
3/4 c plus 2 Tbsp all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
pinch of kosher salt
3 large eggs
1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
Confectioners' sugar for dusting

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Grease the bottom and sides of a 8inch springform pan.
In a large bowl ,too the apples with the lemon juice and 2 tablespoons of sugar.  Let stand for 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, in a small bowl, whisk the flour with the cinnamon and salt.  In a medium bowl, using an electric mixer, beat the eggs with the vanilla extract and the remaining sugar at a medium-high speed until thick and pale yellow, about 8-10 minutes.  Ribbons should form when the beaters are lifted.

Gently fold the dry ingredients just until incorporated.

Spread the apples in the prepared pan, in an even layer.  Then, pour the batter evenly over top of the apples.

Let stand for 5 minutes to allow the batter to sink in a little.
Bake for about an hour, until it is golden and crisp on top and a cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean.

Transfer to a rack and let rest for 15 minutes.  Unmold and transfer to a serving latter.  Dust with confectioners sugar and dust with confectioners sugar.

Thyme 2 Taste...

TIP: The original recipe called for 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg, I chose not to use nutmeg because I don't like nutmeg.  But, if you like nutmeg, you should definitely give it a shot.