Meat Loaf with Roasted Tomatoes & Fluffy Mashed Potatoes

I think every man I know loves some meat loaf & taters... ma! the meatloaf! Anyway, it's not my ultimate favorite kinda meal but this one was pretty tasty I have to say. AND the mashed potatoes are fluffy, creamy and decadent. The roasted tomatoes are sweet and juicy and add a natural sauce to this dish when you cut them up. Did I say how good these mashed potatoes were??? Well they aren't low fat so that's probably why! I picked these recipes up from the latest issue of Real Simple magazine and it turned out great! Here's how I made it...

Meat Loaf with Roasted Tomatoes

6 -8 servings

ingredients

• 1/2 cup ketchup

• 2 tbsp dark brown sugar

• 1/2 cup rolled oats

• 1/4 cup whole milk

• 2 large eggs, lightly beaten

• 1 small onion, grated (do this over the bowl of meat so it catches all the juices)

• 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce

• 1 tsp dried thyme 

• Kosher salt & freshly ground black pepper

• 1 lb ground beef

• 1 lb ground pork

• 1 lb plum tomatoes or tomatoes on the vine (small though)

directions

1.  Preheat the oven to 400º. Whisk 1/4 cup ketchup and brown sugar in a small bowl and set aside.

2. Combine the oats & milk in a large bowl (just use your fingers to combine). Let stand until the oats are soft which will be about 5 minutes or so. Grate the onion over the bowl so you catch all the juices. Whisk in eggs, Worcestershire sauce, thyme, 1/4 cup ketchup, 3/4 tsp salt (just eyeball it), 1/2 tsp pepper. Add the beef and pork and gently mix with your hands until just combined. Don't over mix as it will make the meat loaf tough and that is no bueno!

3. Transfer to a 9x13 inch baking dish and form into any shape you desire - get creative if you want, it doesn't have to be the same old meatloaf log shape. Brush the top with the sweetened ketchup mixture and arrange the tomatoes around the sides. Sprinkle a bit of S & P on top of the tomatoes as well. 

4. Bake until a thermometer reads 165º in the center. (I use a thermometer that I can insert in the beginning that has a cord with a magnetic read out that I place on the front of the oven. You can also just use an instant read thermometer as well). Bake for 40-50 minutes and then remove from oven. Let rest 5-10 minutes before slicing.

For leftovers, just sandwich some meatloaf & tomatoes in a potato bun and you have LUNCH! NOM NOM NOM.

Fluffy Mashed Potatoes

6 -8 servings

ingredients

• 2 lbs Yukon gold potatoes, peeled & cut into 1 1/2" cubes

• 1 cup whole milk, at room temp

• 4 oz cream cheese, at room temp

• 1 stick unsalted butter, at room temp (cut into pieces)

• Kosher salt & freshly ground black pepper

• 3 large eggs, at room temp and lightly beaten

directions

1. Preheat oven to 400º. Fill a large pot with cold water and the potatoes (just covering them by 1"). Bring to a simmer, place the lid half tilted over the pot and cook for 20 minutes. Drain and return potatoes to the pot.

2. Add the milk, cream cheese, butter, 2 tsp salt, 1 tsp pepper and mash until smooth. Gently fold in the eggs until combined. Transfer to a buttered 2 quart baking dish, smoothing the top.

3. Bake for 25-30 minutes until set in the middle and golden.

You can make these the day before and store in the fridge until ready to bake, just add about 10 more minutes to the baking time if it is refrigerated.

Enjoy!

These recipes were adapted from Real Simple Magazine.