What’s for Dinner?

Bacon Jalapeno Meatloaf with Squash & Corn Succotash

Is there anything better than bacon & jalapeno? The answer is N O. Ok, now combine that with meatloaf and I just became the best wife ever. For this recipe, you’ll need

• 10-12 slices of bacon
• 2lbs ground sirloin
• 2 eggs
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2-3 jalapenos, 1-2 diced and seeded and 1 sliced
• 1/4 red onion, finely chopped
• 6 tbsp ketchup
• 2 tbsp Worchestershire sauce
• salt & pepper, to taste
• 1/4 c brown sugar
• either 2/3 c breadcrumbs or Italian bread (moisten the bread with warn water and break apart) I use the bread, maybe about the equivalent of a hard roll

Oh, and the secret to my meatloaf is to cook it in a cast iron pan in the oven at 350 degrees. It cooks way more evenly and gets nice and crispy on the ends.

1. Start by cooking the bacon in the same cast iron pan you will use for the meatloaf. Keep about 4 slices raw for the top of the meatloaf. Remove from pan, drain on paper towels, and crumble. Reserve a coating of the fat in the pan for baking the meatloaf
2. In a large bowl, combine the beef, eggs, bread (or crumbs), 1 or two of the jalapenos, garlic, onion, 2/3 of the ketchup, salt, pepper, and bacon.
3. Shape the meat in the pan and top with uncooked bacon.
4. Next, in a small bowl, combine remaining ketchup, worchestershire sauce, and brown sugar and brush the top of the meatloaf and bacon to create a nice glazing. Top with the last of the jalapenos slices
5. Bake in a 350 degree oven for about an hour

Now on to the succotash. Don’t get over whelmed by the sound of the word. It’s really just some vegetables mixed with peppers and corn. I wanted to use up some of the last fresh harvest from my garden and that left me with zucchini, peppers, and corn.  So succotash it is. And this is really one of those vegetable dishes that tastes like a treat. Even my kids love it. It combines all of the flavors of late summer. To make it, you’ll need

• 2 sweet peppers (I used green and orange)
• 2 ears of corn or a can of corn
• 2 small zucchini
• 1/4 of a red onion
• 3-4 basil leaves
• juice from 1/2 a lemon
• olive oil, salt, pepper, and garlic power

Ok, lets get this goodness cooking while the meatloaf is in the oven. Start it when the meatloaf has about 20 minutes left to cook.

1. Dice all the veggies and if using ears of corn, cut the corn off the cob.
2. Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a medium skillet (I always use cast iron) and saute the peppers, squash, and onion until tender and lightly browned, about 4-5 minutes.
3. Add salt, pepper, and garlic powder to taste.
4. Add in corn and cook until heated through, 1-2 minutes
5. Remove from heat and add chopped basil leaves and lemon juice.

Be sure to check back next week and see what’s cooking! Slow down & Enjoy, my friends 🙂