A Different Take on a Classic Recipe... Cheesy Stuffed Meatloaf

Growing up as a kid I was never a huge fan of meatloaf.  I always thought it tasted funny and I needed more mashed potatoes than you could ever imagine to just cover up the taste of it.  Fast forward to adulthood and I still don't like meatloaf all that much, but one day my mom decided to make a cheese stuffed meatloaf for us and it was then that I decided that meatloaf wasn't that bad.  One of the things that I LOVE about this recipe is that it is one of those that has a bunch of suggested ingredients, but is one where you can basically throw whatever you want in the mix to make it your own.

So without further ado... here is a delicious recipe for cheese stuffed meatloaf!!

Cheesey Stuffed Meatloaf

Ingredients:
Ground Beef
Bread Crumbs
Garlic Powder
Seasoned Salt
Seasoned Pepper
Parsley
Worcestershire Sauce (I only used 2 shakes because I am not a huge fan of the taste of this, but need it for the consistency)
1 Egg
Sliced Cheese (I used Sharp Cheddar and Colby Jack... pre-sliced from the grocery store of course)
*Anything else you want to add*
I added:
     Parmesean Cheese
     Paprika
     Red Pepper Flakes

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350.
2. Grease meatloaf pan.
3. Add all ingredients to mixing bowl.  *Note: there are no amounts to any of the ingredients because it is basically all done to taste. You can add as little or as much as you want to the meat*

4. Mix together.

5. Add half of the meat mixture to the pan.

6. Spread slices of cheese evenly over the meat.

7. Top with remaining meat.

8. Bake at preheated oven for 45-60 minutes (since getting a new meatloaf pan we have only been baking it for 45 minutes, but prior to the new pan we cooked it for closer to an hour)
9. Enjoy!

Do you think meatloaf is a classic comfort food? Do you have any fun takes on meatloaf?

Delicious Dish Tuesday... Smothered Beef Patties

It's been a few weeks since I have participated in  a Delicious Dish Tuesday link up, so I figured it was high time I post another recipe on here.  Delicious Dish Tuesday is a weekly link up hosted by Mary at Eat, Drink & Be Mary, Alesha at Full Time Mama, and Amanda at Coping with Frugality.  I have found so many fantastic recipes through this link up, and have even had the honor of being the featured recipe twice!!

A few weeks ago I decided it was high time to break out the crock pot again and try a new recipe.  I think I did it because the husband said that I hadn't cooked for him in a while (it was probably the truth as my schedule has been crazy recently), and I knew I wanted to find a new recipe to make using the crock pot.  For those of you who don't know, I LOVE crock pot cooking.  I love that I can throw stuff in the crock pot in the morning and then by dinner time we have a nice home cooked meal.  Crock pot meals usually don't take a ton of prep time, which also means I don't have to spend hours in the kitchen slaving over a hot stove in order to put a hot meal on the table.  That is definitely a win, win in my book!  So without further ado, here is a crock pot recipe for Smothered Beef Patties!

Smothered Beef Patties
(adapted from the Slow Cooker Cookbook)

Ingredients:
Worcestershire Sauce
Garlic Powder
Salt
Black Pepper
Red Pepper Flakes
Cayenne Pepper
1 can Mexican-style Diced Tomatoes with Chilies, undrained
8 Frozen Beef Patties, unthawed
1 Onion, cut into 8 slices

Directions:
1. Spray crock pot with cooking spray.
2. Sprinkle bottom of crock pot with Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, and cayenne pepper (do this to taste); then add 2 Tbsp of the diced tomato mixture.

3. Place 4 frozen beef patties on the seasonings.

4. Place onion slice on top of each patty

5. Repeat steps 2-4 until all beef patties are used up

6. Cover and cook on low for 8 hours.
7. Enjoy!

Do you have any favorite crock pot recipes?

Delicious Dish Tuesday.... Firey Chile Beef

Since finding my cooking mojo again I have decided to make this recipe thing a weekly occurence and will once again be linking up with Eat, Drink & Be Mary, Coping with Frugality, and Full TIme Mama for their Delicious Dish Tuesday link-up.  I participated last week for the first time and definitely came across a few recipes that I am hoping to try out on the hubby in the upcoming weeks.  Don't worry, I promise to let you know how they turned out so that you can share in some of the deliciousness that comes from finding recipes from my fellow bloggers!  Speaking of, last week we made this delicious Cheez-It Chicken Fingers recipe from my friend Elizabeth over at Elizabeth Loves... you should definitely check it out!

Elizabeth's Cheez-It Chicken Fingers with a side of mac 'n cheese... delicious!

Now, without further ado...

Firey Chile Beef

adapted from the Slow Cooker cookbook

Ingredients:

1 flank steak (about 1-1 1/2 lbs)

1 can (28 oz) diced tomatoes, undrained

1 can (15 oz) pinto beans, rinsed and drained

1 medium onion, chopped

1 tsp. garlic

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. ground cumin

1/4 tsp. black pepper

1 can chipotle chile pepper in adobo sauce

1 tsp. adobo sauce from the can

8 flour tortillas

Shredded Mexican cheese

Sour Cream

Any additional toppings you may desire

Directions:

1. Cut flank steak into evenly sliced pieces.

2. Place flank steak, tomatoes with juice, beans, onion, garlic, salt, cumin, and black pepper into a greased slow cooker.

3. Dice chile peppers.

4. Add peppers and adobo sauce to slow cooker and mix well.

5.  Cook on low for 7-8 hours.

6. Serve with tortillas, Mexican cheese and sour cream (or any additional toppings you desire)

7. Enjoy!