Cajun Meatloaf (3 Star)

If you like meatloaf, you will love this. If you don't like meatloaf, this is worth trying anyway because it's awesome and you'll probably love it and discover you've been missing out, thinking that you didn't like meat loaf. And if you think you don't like meatloaf, I can empathize because there was a time that I didn't either. Any food with the word "loaf" in it that is not bread has always worried me a little.

But with this meatloaf, there is no need to fret, because it is juicy, spicy (I halve the cayenne to protect young taste buds), and so flavorful. I found the recipe here, on Pioneer Woman's site. In the past, I never would have considered serving meatloaf to company, (due to my meatloaf misgivings and reservations) but this is very much company-worthy. I served it to a group at my home the other day and received much praise and glory.

Asian Lettuce Wraps (3 Star)

These wraps are really good and fairly easy to make. I was inspired by this recipe but I changed it up quite a bit because I didn't have a number of the sauce ingredients and I had different vegetables. Instead of making the sauce in the recipe, I used my Soy Vay Veri Veri Teriyaki Sauce that I bought at Costco, which I love.

I made a large batch due to the fact that one boy in this family could easily eat an entire two pounds of meat by himself, if allowed.

Asian Lettuce Wraps

1 teaspoon sesame oil
2 Tablespoon olive oil
6 cloves garlic, minced, or pressed through garlic press
2 Tablespoons fresh ginger, minced
4 carrots, peeled and finely chopped
2 red peppers, finely chopped
1 large onion, finely chopped
1 can bamboo shoots, finely chopped
3 pounds extra lean ground beef
1 Tablespoon hot red pepper paste (we have Korean)
1 cup Soy Vay Veri Veri Teriyaki Sauce
crunchy lettuce or cabbage (right now I am loving the organic heirloom baby lettuces from Costco)

In a large pan or wok heat oil over medium high heat. Add the carrots, peppers, and onion. Saute for about 5-8 minutes or until tender. Add the garlic and ginger and saute for one minute more.

Add the ground beef and the hot red pepper paste. Stir completely to incorporate. Add the bamboo shoots.

Add the teriyaki sauce and cook until the ground beef is cooked through. This should be juicy but not sopping.

Serve in lettuce/cabbage cups.

Shepherd's Pie (3 Star)

"I don't want to be a pie. I don't like gravy."

(Name that movie.) This phrase said in an English accent always comes to mind when I hear the word "pie". Even if you don't like gravy, you might still like Shepherd's Pie. There is not even any chicken involved. It is the ultimate hearty comfort food. I like this recipe from Prudence Pennywise, and three of the boys liked, too, it if I left out the corn. (I made ours half corn, half no corn.)