Pepper Jack Meatoaf

This is a tasty and juicy change from your old ho-hum meatloaf.

Ingredients:
1 lb ground beef, turkey or chicken
1 cup celery, diced
½ cup onion, diced  
1 cup oatmeal or crumbled saltine cracker
2 eggs
2 cups pepper jack cheese shredded
¼ cup ketchup
1/8 tsp chili powder  
Salt and pepper

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Grease a loaf pan.   
2. Mix meat, celery, onion, oatmeal or crackers, eggs together well. Press half of the meat mixture into prepared loaf pan. Place cheese over meat mixture. Top with remaining meat mixture and press down to seal. Spread ketchup over top of meat loaf. Sprinkle with chili powder, salt and pepper. 
3. Bake, covered lightly with foil, for 30 minutes.  Increase oven temperature to 425 degrees F, remove cover and continue to bake for 20 minutes or until edges are bubbling and knife inserted in center comes out clean.
4. Let sit for 5 minutes then slice and serve.

Note: If you can’t find Pepper Jack cheese, Monterey Jack plus 1/2 tsp chili powder may be substituted

Glazed Carrots

 

Serves 4-6

Ingredients:

1 cup water
1 pound carrots, cut into julienne strips
3 tablespoons Teriyaki  Sauce
2 tablespoons butter or margarine
1 tablespoon light brown sugar, packed
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

chopped parsley if desired

Instructions:

1. Bring water to boil in large saucepan; add carrots; cover; cook over medium-low heat 10 minutes or until tender-crisp; drain well.
2. Push carrots to one side of saucepan; add teriyaki sauce, butter, brown sugar, nutmeg; blend well, then stir into carrots; cook 2 minutes, stirring gently until carrots are glazed.
3. Serve with ham, pork, lamb or chicken.

Savory Candied Bacon

Last year, candied bacon was all the rage. I have to admit, I tried it a few times. It's one of those things that is so delicious and decadent, but bad for you! This recipe is a little different in that is has a savory side (by adding the soya sauce). How can you go wrong with sweet and savory?!

Ingredients:

1 cup brown sugar
1 tablespoon maple syrup
2 tablespoons Kikkoman soy sauce
1 pound thick bacon

Instructions:

Heat the oven to 350º. In a medium bowl combine brown sugar, maple syrup and soy sauce stir well to blend. Line a medium baking sheet with foil and place a rack onto the baking sheet. Separate the bacon slices and place them on the rack. Using a small spoon to place the sugar mixture onto each slice of bacon, covering the entire top of the slice by using the back of the spoon.  Bake at 350º for about 20 minutes. Check often as bacon slices size my vary.   

Classic Pumpkin Pie

Well, Autumn is here and Thanksgiving (Canadian) is just a few weeks away! I wonder what percentage of us make pumpkin pie? If you're like me and have been making it for years, I'm sure you have your tried and true recipe. For those that would like to try making it for the first time, this recipe is easy and sure to impress your friends and family. My son has already asked me to make two! And I've already stocked up on my canned pumpkin. 

Ingredients:

3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
2 large eggs
1 can (15 oz) pure pumpkin
1 can (12 fl. oz.) Carnation evaporated milk
1 unbaked 9-inch (4-cup volume) deep-dish pie shell
Whipped cream (optional)

Directions:

MIX sugar, cinnamon, salt, ginger and cloves in small bowl. Beat eggs in large bowl. Stir in pumpkin and sugar-spice mixture. Gradually stir in evaporated milk.

POUR into pie shell.

BAKE in preheated 425° F oven for 15 minutes. Reduce temperature to 350° F; bake for 40 to 50 minutes or until knife inserted near center comes out clean. Cool on wire rack for 2 hours. Serve immediately or refrigerate. Top with whipped cream before serving.