Holly's Chicken Meatloaf

Our baby dinners have finally come to an end. I'm depressed. Morgan also mentioned that it is now time to remove the blue bow from the mailbox.  This is a capital BOO HOO!  I just love that damn bow (it also hides the disintegration of my mailbox.  Thanks, carpenter bees).

One of our last dinners was this great meatloaf that my friend Holly (her daughter's outgrown clothes comprise the majority of DH's wardrobe- she is my one-stop shop) brought over.  She described it as meatloaf you will love even if you don't like meatloaf.  I love meatloaf, and loved this.  Please excuse the iPhone pics of the leftovers consumed the next day.

I gobbled this up- it is simply delicious and very different from your typical meatloaf which is doused in ketchup and bread crumbs.

Holly's Best Meatloaf EVER

• 3 T unsalted butter
• 3/4 cups finely chopped yellow onion
• 3/4 cup finely chopped scallions
• 1/2 cup finely chopped carrots
• 1/4 cup finely chopped celery
• 1/4 cup finely chopped red bell pepper
• 1/4 cup finely chopped green pepper
• 2 good sized cloves of garlic, minced

• 1-1.5 t of salt
• 1 t freshly ground pepper
• 1/4 t (or more to taste) cayenne pepper
• 1 t ground cumin
• 1/2 t ground nutmeg
• 3 eggs, well beaten
• 1/2 cup ketchup
• 1/2 cup half and half
• 2 pounds lean ground chicken
• 1 lb of sausage meat (without fennel- Holly used bulk sausage and it was fab)
• 3/4 cups panko crumbs

Melt the butter in a heavy skillet and add the vegetables.  Cook stirring often, until he moisture has evaporated, about ten minutes.  Try not to brown them..  Set aside to cool briefly, then refrigerate for one hour.

Combine all of the spices with the eggs in a large mixing bowl and beat well.  Add the ketchup and half and half and blend well.

Preheat the oven to 375.  Let the meat "warm up" a bit at room temp before mixing with the panko and egg mixture.  Add the chilled veggies and knead everything with your hands for about five minutes.

Pout the mixture into a large baking dish and form a loaf the size of a large loaf of Italian bread (about 17"L x 5"W x 1.5"H.

Place the baking dish into a larger pan that can hold water halfway up the sides of the baking dish.  Pour boiling water into the larger baking dish.  Place the layered pans in the oven and cook the meatloaf uncovered for 35-40 minutes.  Let the meatloaf rest for 15  minutes after removing it from the oven.  Invariably, the fat comes out of this dish while baking.  I usually take the meatloaf out of the baking dish and blot with several paper towels before putting it on the serving dish.  This makes great cold leftover sandwiches and freezes well.

In other news- doesn't Deeds look adorable in his new clothes?  These are from Little Hoot Designs, which my dear friend Colleen owns.  I have loved their dresses and tees for DH, and now Deeds is finally getting some clothes other than pjs.

So serious here.  Probably pissed off that he is sitting in a bouncy seat in my flower beds while I work in the yard and Miss Priss plays with the hose.

I know Easter is over, but this family of bunnies has decided to permanently move to my kitchen table.  The extra bunny child has a revolving identity of Gigi, Jordan (my niece who was just visiting) or Ellie (DH's best friend), depending on Dell Harper's mood.  As always, we have some fascinating condos round these parts.

One for the Books

It has been a whirlwind of a week- filled with good food and family.  My darling niece came in from Charlotte on Tuesday for an action packed spring break of toddler chasing and baby holding.  However boring it might have been, when you are almost fifteen anything is better than being around your parents.  Or at least it was for me, ha!

 She was thoroughly smitten with this handsome fellow, and now he is spoiled beyond belief.  Poor buddy is in for a rude awakening when we get back to the routine of a busy mama- it's back to lots of bouncy seat, tummy time and the baby Bjorn, mister!

The rest of Morgan's family arrived in town Friday afternoon.  We had Easter lunch Saturday at my house- timed during nap time so I could actually sit and eat.  The menu was asparagus rolls, smoked salmon and crackers to start, followed by ham, balsamic green beans and hot potato salad.  Casting aside any illusions of modesty, I must say it was a damn fine lunch.

And a beautiful table- no thanks to the freeze earlier in the week that killed about everything blooming. Trader Joe's and Costco to the rescue.  This was my first trip to Costco- that needs its own post.  I could spend my life savings in a single aisle.  Absolutely amazing.

Sunday was just such a special Easter.  Deeds was just perfect during his baptism.  Dell Harper stood up there with us and didn't make a peep until the prayer when she stated (rather loudly) that Deeds is "All clean now mommy!".

Maybe I need to up my bath time skills if she thinks a Presbyterian style sprinkle of water gets you all clean.

After church our families headed to our house for a simple lunch- Chicken Florentine with orzo, a big salad and rolls.  And some Prosecco- a glass of which was just what I needed after surviving an Easter baptism of a 2 month old with a two year old in attendance.

Deeds got a little visit in with his cousin Charlotte, who is exactly 16 weeks older.  She's getting baptized next weekend at our church, so Deeds had plenty of tips to impart.  (I just watched the Internet-stream of the church service solely to see if my hair looked as messy as it does in these pictures during the actual service.  It did not- just wilted afterwards.)

Of course it's not like one person paid a whit of attention to my hair.  Not with this darling buddy around.

 Grandparents from both sides of his family holding him- happy baby.

The hundred year old gown Deeds is wearing was profusely spit up upon immediately before pictures.  Ain't that always the way?

 Pop-Pop with all his grandkids, with one notable exception. Miss Priss passed out an hour early for nap on our way home from the church.  She could not be roused and missed the party completely.

After everyone headed home, I put up my feet and ignored chores. It was getting close to wake-up time, so I closed my eyes with the intention of taking a nap.  Sure enough, I immediately heard "Mama?!?  WAAHHH!!" coming from her room.

I deposited her in front of her Easter basket to avoid any post nap temper tantrum.  She stared into space for a bit, then realized it was for her.  Lots of crafts and opening up of stuff ensued.  So no pictures exist to document all four of us dressed, accessorized and bathed. I need photographic documentation of this rare occurrence!  I guess I can always watch the baptism online again, sigh.  It's pretty amusing to see Morgan surreptitiously wipe the sweat form his brow during the prayers.

DH obviously got more from the baptism than I expected, as she chased Buddy around the yard hollering "COME HERE BUDDY!! I put water on your head!!"

Buddy now can wreak even more havoc knowing his entrance to doggie heaven is secure.  Hmmpph.

Weekend Wrap-Up

It was a busy weekend (par for course come spring, it seems), filled with sunshine and friends.  This little artiste got to stay at her grandparent's house Friday night, since I had to do volunteer work at a plant sale all day Saturday. She is enthralled with my mom's pottery studio (the "Shop") and loves to sit on her stool, paint, and drink Sprite from a cup down there.  Gigi and Graddy's house is truly a magical land in the eyes of Dell Harper.

Having a little peace and quiet with this fella Friday night was a lovely little interlude.

I had a blast slinging sandwiches with these ladies at said plant sale- it was perfect weather and a great day.

Things I have missed- blue skies, sunglasses and shorts!  Lawdy, my legs are a mess though.  I bought some of that Jergens gradual glow stuff after noticing the extreme level of white trash-ness my legs have attained.  I must bang Deeds' carseat against my shins as I tote him. Bruises galore, and, pale! Oh, it is just pitiful.

After church on Sunday we headed to the Lilly store to see the Easter bunny.  Miss Priss was all fired up about the "big bunny", then would not get within six feet of him.

 DH did enjoy the yogurt pretzels, however.

After naps for all, we headed back to church for the annual Easter egg hunt, which was more of a success.

 Cookie decorating with one of her best buddies- they share a love of Frozen and sprinkles.  Toddler friendship at its finest, people.

Followed by some egg hunting-

 I had to step in for some assistance in explaining the concept of putting the eggs in her basket.  She preferred opening, examining the contents, then discarding.

Deeds wants it to be known that it was his nap time, he was still wearing church clothes, and it was hot.  Not an opportune for a mother-son picture I suppose.

 Ahhh, the discovery of candy inside helped move the collection process along.  Those eggs started flying into her basket.

She couldn't even make it past the mudroom before stripping down and investigating her loot.

Toddler tornado.

Off to fold some laundry that I have been procrastinating all evening.  My poor sister-in-law was the recipient of approximately eighty-seven thousand texts while I put off washing dishes, and y'all are getting eleventh billion pictures of Miss Priss to avoid laundry.  Priorities.