Individual Meat Loaf Cups

This was my April Fool's Dinner this year. I plan to make them again but without the food coloring in the potatoes!


You can find the original recipe here.

Meat Loaf
1 pound lean ground beef
1/2 cup seasoned bread crumbs
1 cup grated Monterey Jack cheese
3 tablespoons ketchup
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon celery salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper

Potato Frosting
3 cups mashed potatoes
Food coloring

1. Heat the oven to 375 degrees. Line 12 muffin tin cups with foil bake cups.

2. In a large bowl, mix together all of the meat loaf ingredients until well combined. Divide the mixture evenly among the lined cups (the liners should be about three quarters full).

3. Place the filled muffin tins on cookie sheets and bake the cupcakes for about 15 minutes or until cooked through.

4. Divide the mashed potatoes among three small bowls and stir a few drops of food coloring into each batch to create blue, yellow, and pink pastel frostings. Spread a generous dollop on each cupcake.

Makes 12 cupcakes.

Meatballs and Sauce

This one is a good variation from the regular Ragu or Prego or whatever. The grape jelly makes it a little darker than traditional sauce and the mixture has a somewhat sweet, rich flavor varied by the spaghetti sauce you choose.
1 26 oz jar of your favorite spaghetti sauce
6 oz V8 juice
1 pkg dry onion soup mix
1/2 c grape jelly
1 15 oz can stewed or diced tomatoes
Approx. 1 lb. precooked, frozen meatballs (turkey or beef) *See recipe below*
photo from wholefoods.com

Combine all ingredients in a slow cooker or large pan on stove. Cook on medium to medium-low heat until meatballs are hot. Turn down heat and simmer until ready to serve. Serve over noodles, rice, or on a toasted roll with provolone, mozzarella or your favorite cheese. Serves 4-6.

Easy Oven Meatballs
1 lb ground beef, 1 egg, 1/2 cup bread crumbs, 1/2 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp Worchestershire sauce, 1/4 tsp. pepper and 1/2 cup milk. Mix it all together and make 1 1/2 inch balls. Bake for 25-30 minutes at 375.