Clean Eating Meatloaf

Wow, I've missed this. It's been so long since I've posted an entry. I'm on the computer so much for work that when the day is over, the last thing I want to do is stare at a computer screen.

Unfortunately, this has led me to abandon my blog and other creative projects that I really do enjoy. It's nice to know they're still here waiting for me when I feel compelled or inspired to do so.

I have switched a lot of my recipes to "Clean Eating".  When I first did this, I thought I was making a sacrifice. What a wonderful surprise to discover the wonderful, natural tastes that enhance what we eat! I'm finding baking is not as easy a transition, but the suppers we have are actually preferred rather than despised.

This morning, I'm making some meatloaf for the freezer. When I last made this, my family devoured it and the kids had no idea that 1/3 of this meal had minced veggies in it. Success! I also prefer this to all other meatloaf recipes I've cooked with in the past.

Another thing I highly recommend for meatloaf to enhance the flavour is to use a broiling pan rather than loaf pan. The outside gets so nice and crispy and the inside stays super juicy (not to mention losing more of the fat from the meat). See photo at bottom.

photo by kalamazoo

Tracey's Clean Eating Meatloaf

Olive Oil Cooking Spray
1 onion
3 carrots, peeled and chopped into large chunks
3 stalks celery chopped into large chunks
Minced Garlic

1.5 cups rolled oats
1.5 tsp chili powder
3 tsp thyme
1 tsp ground sea salt
1 tsp ground black pepper
2 eggs
3 lbs extra lean ground beef

1 cup Ketchup (cheating here a little, but too lazy to make my own)
2 tsp cumin
3 tsp worcestershire

Prepare your broil pan: add a little water to the bottom pan and spray the broil top with cooking spray.

In a food processor, mince together the onion, carrots, celery and garlic.
In a small bowl, mix together the oats, chili powder, thyme, salt, pepper.
In a large bowl, combine beef with egg and blend together using your hands. Add the oats and spices and also the minced veggies. Mix together very well. Divide the mixture into two.

Take one half of the mixture and shape into loaf atop one side of the broiling pan. Repeat with 2nd half.

Place in oven at 375 for 1 hour.

At this point, you can freeze the meatloaves if you wish. If not, prepare glaze by mixing Ketchup with cumin and worcestershire. Poor over meatloaves and cook for an additional 15 minutes until heated through.

Meatloaf atop broiling pan