Fester's 3-Week Anniversary Meatloaf | Addams Family Values #FoodnFlix

The Food 'n Flix club bloggers have scooched their chairs up to the Addams Family table this month, along with our host Kimberly from Coffee and Casseroles. There's no month more fitting than October to hang out with in the kitchen with one of my favorite families. Kimberly invited to watch either (or both) of the early 1990's films, The Addams Family or Addams Family Values. I watched both. Again.

Mini Meatloaf | Recipes from Raine’s Roost aka Jillian’s Kitchen | Interview + Giveaway!

You’re in for a treat today. I’m excited to host another blog stop for author, L.G. O’Connor. I’ve featured several of her books over the years both from her paranormal angel romance series, The Angelorum Twelve Chronicles, and her romantic women’s fiction series, Caught Up in Love. Even though her books aren’t ordinarily “foodie reads,” her heroes seem to know their way around a kitchen and you can tell she appreciates a good meal. So imagine my surprise when she told me her latest release was a recipe compilation from Raine MacDonald, the sexy hero in Caught Up in RAINE! (To see my review of the book and the Chicken Marsala recipe inspired by CUIR from last April, click HERE.)

Rosemary and Sundried Tomato Meatloaf Sandwiches | Fudge and Jury

Welcome to the tlc book tours stop for Fudge and Jury! Fudge and Jury is book 5 in the Bakeshop Mystery series by Ellie Alexander—and it's a cozy mystery, which you might know is one of my favorite ways to escape when I have a little time to myself (fun, quick, easy reads).

The logical thinker in me cringes at the thought of starting a series anywhere but at the beginning, but there's not enough time in the day or days in the week for me to read everything I'd like, so I threw caution to the wind and went into this book blind. And while I know there are background and character-building elements of the story that I missed, it still made sense as a stand-alone book.

Bloody Feetloaf (aka Halloween Meatloaf)

With Halloween less than a week away, I thought it would be fun to ask the other Progressive Eats bloggers if they'd join me in putting together a Halloween-inspired menu today. Cute and spooky, orange and black, maybe even kinda gross (that's me!)—I love all of the spirited menu inspiration that surrounds All Hallows' Eve!

Chili Garlic Meatloaf Sandwich

Hey guys! I shared this Chili Garlic Meatloaf Sandwich over at the Sunday Supper Movement Online Community Magazine site today - check it out, it's perfect game day food!

Bacon Cheeseburger Meatloaf

Some meals taste even better the day after they are made.  Many soups, stews and chilis benefit from that overnight soak; they thicken up, and the flavors have time to develop.  The same holds true for many bean and lentil dishes.  I've even heard arguments for day-after pizza.  But my absolute favorite dish to eat the day after it is made (aside from Thanksgiving leftovers) is meatloaf.  Heck, I've been known to make a meatloaf for the sole purpose of having Meatloaf Sandwiches the next day.

The thing about meatloaf is, people seem to love it or loathe it.  I, for one, fall into the love category.  It's another one of those dishes that I grew up on, and a bite of good, homemade meatloaf never fails to put me at ease...bring me comfort.  Which is going to make it seem odd when I tell you that I have never once made the same meatloaf twice in my life.  I've never had a recipe for meatloaf.  It's one of those things that you can do that with, though.  I do prefer to use a half beef, half pork mixture.  The binder always seems to vary - sometimes I use crushed crackers, sometimes fresh bread crumbs soaked in milk, sometimes dry bread crumbs; I've even used rice and oatmeal.  Sometimes I shred veggies into it.  I often vary the glaze.  I've even studded it with cheese, or wrapped hard-boiled eggs into the middle.  I like it all!

Cookbook Review: Quick-Fix Southern by Rebecca Lang

Rebecca Lang set out to combine taste, history, family, tradition, Southern roots, and her love for the kitchen in the fast-paced world of today in the cookbook Quick-Fix Southern.  She says she was raised with grandmothers who could "run a kitchen like nobody's business" ...in a part of the country steeped in rich tradition...food playing a major role in this history.  Aiming to get meals on the table in a shorter time-frame, Lang brings Southern Classics as well as more modern dishes to the table.  Starting out with a chapter on "the basics of quick cooking in the south", you'll be itching to get into the kitchen and stock your pantry with her Southern All-Purpose Flour and Southern Self-Rising Flour, Buttermilk, Tangy Barbecue Sauce and Sugar Syrup so that you, too can bring some comforting Southern classics to your table in no time at all.

While (of course) there were little strips of paper sticking out of this book from every open edge, I started out by making a big batch of Soft Buttermilk Waffles for breakfast.  They were quick and simple.  And awesome.  I'll be using this recipe often!

I HAD to try the Jalapeño Deviled Eggs in the appetizers and snacks chapter...for Mexi's sake {ahem}.  And just as I predicted, he said they rocked.  He likes his deviled eggs as sandwich-stuffers.  Sure enough, he shoved as many as he could in between two slices of bread and raved the whole time he chewed.  Yeah.  Not a pretty sight.

Next up is a Southern classic that I've wanted to try for...like...ever, but for some reason never had.  Until now.  Classic Pimento Cheese is just as addicting as I expected.  I mean, extra-sharp Cheddar is a total weakness of mine, anyway.  Combine it with some onion and a couple of other ingredients and it was a stinky-delicious-crave-worthy container of goodness.

Now, something funny.  My friend Deb from Kahaki Kitchen just happened to review this book last week.  And she just happened to choose two of the same things to test out that I did.  That would be the aforementioned Pimento Cheese, and the Oats and Bacon Meatloaf.  Fortunately, I had the meatloaf in the oven the day I saw her post, so I knew to save some and combine it with the cheese to make a killer sandwich like she did!  Seriously.  The meatloaf doesn't have too many ingredients, but it is super tasty.  I think I may have actually enjoyed it even more cold.  Cold meatloaf and pimento cheese sammich....YUM!  Like seriously.  YUM.  Seriously.  Thanks Deb...great minds think alike☺. But we already knew that, didn't we!?

Last, but certainly not least, some popcorn...kicked up with the salty, meatiness of bacon...the musty, earthiness of rosemary...and the pungeant punch of blue cheese.  And don't forget the butter!  A great and dare I say addicting (again!) snack that I just couldn't get enough of.  Oh, and wash it down with a cold beer for good measure.  Your breath will be odorific!

Blue Cheese and Bacon Popcorn

from Quick-Fix Southern

serves 4-6  (or 2-3 in my house)

1 (3.3 oz.) bag natural microwave popcorn

3 Tbs. butter, melted

2 oz. Maytag Blue Cheese

4 slices cooked bacon, finely chopped

2 tsp. chopped, fresh rosemary

Pop the popcorn according to package directions.  Pour popcorn into a large mixing bowl.  Drizzle about half of the melted butter over the popcorn.  Grate about half of the cheese over the popcorn.  Sprinkle with (you guessed it) half of the bacon and half of the rosemary.  Toss and repeat with remaining ingredients.  Serve immediately.

There are tons more delicious recipes, tips and meal choices packed into this great cookbook...check it out!

*Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher to review, should I choose.  The opinions stated in this post are 100% mine!

Bacon-topped Meatloaf w/ Potato & Green Bean Salad

Nothing like some pretty colors to get people to eat their veggies!! Okay, starch and veggies...but never the less, people wanna eat 'em! Then, top a little something with bacon and it's a surefire winner! I adore bacon. Not much talk today...straight to the cookin'...after I tell you that I LOVE fresh green beans (do not like canned ones, though...all army green and drab) and paired with these Gemstone Potatoes, they make one of my favorite side/snack/salad-ish combos!Bacon-topped Meatloaf with Gemstone Potato-Green Bean "Salad"
Meatloaf adapted from Mark Bittman's Basic Meatloaf in How to Cook Everything

Meatloaf
2 lbs. ground meat (I used beef & pork)
1/2 c. Italian-Seasoned Bread Crumbs
1/2 c. milk
1 egg
1/2 c. freshly grated Parmesan
1/4 c. chopped, fresh parsley
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 small carrot, peel & grate
1 small onion, peel & grate
couple pinches of dried Italian Seasoning
Black Truffle Sea Salt
Freshly Ground Black pepper- to taste
4 slices bacon

 Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Soak the bread crumbs in the milk until all liquid is absorbed. Place ground meats in bowl. Add all remaining ingredients except bacon. Mix it all up well with your hands.Free form it into a loaf of any shape you like and place it on a foil-lined sheet pan. Drape the bacon slices over the loaf. Bake 50-60 minutes, or until thermometer registers 165 degrees F in center of loaf. Let sit for 5-10 minutes to recompose itself (juices). Slice. Break up fight over end piece. Enjoy warm or even better cold in a sammie the next day.Gemstone Potato & Green Bean "Salad"
I don't know if it's necessarily a salad...or just a side...but I like it hot, room temp or cold from the fridge for snacking. All amounts are "to taste".

Gemstone Potatoes (or any type you like...smallish or cut smallish)

Fresh green beans, ends snapped (I like 'em long, but you can halve them if you wish)

Olive Oil

White Wine Vinegar (or red wine vinegar)

Sea Salt

Black Pepper

Begin by thoroughly washing your taters & beans. Steam or boil each separately...but try to time it so they're both done pretty simultaneously.

Drain both and toss with some drizzles of olive oil & white wine vinegar. Season to taste with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper. Enjoy!Put it all together and you've got one tasty meal!