A Working Mom's Meal Plan

The hardest part of my day is when we get home and everyone is immediately hungry. I love to cook and prefer
home-cooked meals, but I don't like to cook much during the work week. And yet, dinner has to get on the table...
My solution: make-ahead meals, freeze-ahead meals and recipes so easy that I'll make them on a Monday. I cook
mostly on the weekends, always doubling recipes, and rely heavily on my extra freezer and a decently-stocked pantry.
This cooking style saves me time and money, and it makes my life simpler—so I can actually enjoy sitting down
to supper at 6 with my family. I hope these recipes will make the witching hour a little better at your house too.

Friday, September 23, 2011

Mini Meatloaves

One nice thing about these miniature meatloaves is the speedy baking time—much faster than ordinary meatloaf. Kids love the honey mustard and ketchup glaze; I like to double the amounts listed below. These freeze well or are great sliced for sandwiches the next day. (from Stacy and Martha Stewart)

olive oil for baking sheet
2 tablespoons honey mustard
2 tablespoons ketchup
1 lb ground chuck or ground beef
1 egg, beaten with a fork
1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
coarse salt and pepper

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Brush a rimmed baking sheet with olive oil. Mix honey mustard and ketchup together in a small bowl.

Combine ground beef, egg, panko, 1/2 cup cheddar, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper; it's easiest to mix this together with clean hands. Form into four small loaves on the baking sheet. Top each with a few spoonfuls of the ketchup mixture, then sprinkle with remaining cheese. Bake about 15 to 20 minutes, or until cooked through.

*Good on the side: Cut fingerling potatoes into chunks, toss in olive oil, season with salt and pepper and roast in a pan alongside the meatloaf, stirring every once in a while. I'd start them a little earlier so they get crispy.

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