I should seriously consider changing my "all or nothing" mentality. It's been causing a serious cramp in my lifestyle lately. Perhaps you know someone like me. I'm the sort of girl who doesn't feel like doing dishes a couple at a time. Instead, I wait a week or so, until the plates are stacked in the kitchen sink like the blocks of a Jenga game before I wash them, but then I spend an extra 2 hours scrubbing every surface in the kitchen with a toothbrush because I suddenly felt like "cleaning". It's all or nothing, I tell ya. I sat on the couch a couple of months ago, Lays Wavy Chips in one hand and a bowl of buffalo chicken dip in the other. I was wearing my "fattie" t-shirt, made by the world famous fashion designer, Omar the Tent Maker. Oh, and I had on a pair of black stretchy pants. Black is slimming you know. I looked over at Brian, completely overlooking a big gob of dip running down my chin, and announced that I would be starting a diet and exercise plan because I was hell bent on losing 35 pounds. He rolled his eyes and made this weird groaning noise. He had a look on his face like he had heard that story at least 200 times during the course of our relationship. Whatevs. I would show him this time that I'm a girl of my word!
The very next day, I bolted out of bed (OK, that was a lie... I fell out while reaching to turn off the alarm clock), geared up into my Phil Collins 1987 World Tour sweatshirt and my favorite sweat pants and dashed out the door to walk no less than 10,000 steps. That's what my doctor recommended so dang it, that's what I would be walking!
Unfortunately, my doctor failed to ask a critical pre-exercise regimen question. He assumed that I had been exercising routinely at least a couple of times a week. I didn't want to let on that the last time I had seriously exercised was when Richard Simmons released his first "Sweatin' to the Oldies" video. Nevertheless, I nodded affirmatively to every question he asked. "Have you ever run a half marathon?" Umm...I suddenly remembered the time I dashed through the Dairy Queen parking lot and knocked over a couple of toddlers in my attempt to get a 12-for-10 special on Dilly Bars. That was a half marathon...or at least it felt like one. "Yup", I answered. "I've got stamina that lasts for days, Doc. Let's do this."
Apparently, stamina that lasts for days poops out after two hundred steps when it hasn't been properly warmed up. Who knew? I decided then and there that I didn't need to exercise if it was going to cause so much discomfort. I would just eat all things "in moderation" and everything would be fine. Oh crap...my all or nothing mentality didn't comprehend the eating in moderation plan. I stuffed down a sleeve of Oreos and called it a day.
Speaking of stuffed, I hit a complete home run in the kitchen with this meat loaf. This isn't just meat loaf, Lovely... it's MEAT LOAF! Look at this big boy!
It's gorgeous, isn't it? There's a layer of BBQ sauce, diced tomatoes, and cheddar cheese up top. Definitely worth feeding to your stomach. But it gets better! Take a look at the INSIDE...
It's stuffed to the gills with great ingredients like spinach, red onion, loads of spices and more cheese. Is it over-the-top? I didn't think so. One bite and I'm pretty confident you'll agree. Sometimes going all the way is just plain yummilicious!
- FOR THE MEAT LOAF
- 1 1/2 pounds ground sirloin, 85% lean
- 1/2 pound ground pork
- 1 egg
- 1/2 cup BBQ sauce, divided
- 1/3 cup bread crumbs
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- FOR THE FILLING
- 1/2 cup fresh baby spinach, cleaned and chopped, stems removed
- 1/2 cup red onion, finely diced
- 1/4 cup (2 ounces) provolone cheese, shredded
- FOR THE TOPPING
- 1/4 cup BBQ sauce
- 1/2 cup plum or Roma tomato, seeded and diced
- 3/4 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
- Heat oven to 375 degrees F (350 F convection)
- Spray bottom and sides of a standard sized loaf pan lightly with non-stick cooking spray
- In a large bowl, add beef, pork, egg, bread crumbs, BBQ sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and spices. Use a wooden spoon or your hands to mix until ingredients are well incorporated. Press half of mixture into bottom of prepared pan.
- Spread spinach, onion, and shredded Provolone evenly over meat mixture in pan.
- Press remaining beef mixture evenly into pan on top of filling.
- Use a small spatula or back of spoon to spread BBQ sauce evenly over top of meat mixture. Sprinkle diced tomato and cheddar cheese evenly over top of sauce.
- Bake at 375 F for 55-65 minutes, until a meat thermometer reads 153 degrees F. Remove from oven and let loaf rest 10-15 minutes before removing from pan to slice and serve.
Bachelor Kitchen
OK. On a 1987 world tour, Phil must've been performing mostly from his 'No Jacket Required' album, which was released in '85 (I think). I saw Phil in '94 on his 'Both Sides' tour. The guy put on the longest concert I'd ever been to (unless you count Gloria Estefan at Madison Square Garden, but that was 'long' because I didn't want to be there). Phil disappoints me these days because he only covers MoTown stuff. -- By the way, that meatloaf is clutch!
You can come and stuff my meatloaf anytime.
Sorry. That sounded gross.