A Warm Wintery Meal-Meatloaf and Sweet Potato Side

Nothing tastes better on a cold winter night than a home-cooked meal.  These two dishes served with some Brussels sprouts make a perfect meal.  They are loaded with nutrition as well as comfort.  Who doesn’t feel the love of mom’s meatloaf?  And how sweet is sliced baked sweet potato?

This particular meatloaf recipe is loaded with goodness.  It contains olive oil as a healthy fat and oatmeal as a source of fiber.  The side dish of sweet potato contains beta-carotene, antioxidants and fiber, making it a low glycemic impact sweet treat.

Winter-Warming Meatloaf

Ingredients:
1 onion, finely chopped
1 tbsp olive oil
2 eggs, beaten
1 cup oatmeal
8oz can tomato sauce
1 tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper
3 lbs lean ground beef
Dash of Tabasco (optional)

Instructions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

In a frying pan, heat olive oil and sautÈ onion until tender. Place cooked onion into a large bowl and let cool for about 10 minutes. Add oats, spices, Tabasco, tomato sauce and eggs and mix thoroughly. Again, let the mixture sit for about 10 minutes.

Add the lean ground beef and blend thoroughly. Shape into two loaves and place on a boiler rack.  You can use a loaf pan with slits and a bottom section to catch drippings or drain oil after baking and before serving. Bake loaves for between 65 to 75 minutes. Use a thermometer to check internal temperature – bake to no less than 160 degrees. Remove the loaves from the oven and set aside for a further 10 minutes, then slice.

The two loaves serve about 10.  One can be frozen and reheated later if so desired.

Sweet Potatoes with Orange Glaze
(Serves 4)

Ingredients:
1 lb sweet potatoes
1/4 cup orange juice
Sprinkle brown sugar (optional)
1/4 tbsp wheat germ
1 tbsp soft butter
2 tbsp of grated orange peel
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp cinnamon

Instructions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Slice the sweet potatoes into 1/8 inch thick slices and place evenly in an 8-inch square dish. In a bowl, combine orange juice, wheat germ, butter, orange peel, nutmeg and cinnamon. Pour over potatoes. Sprinkle with very small amount of brown sugar if desired.  Cover the dish with foil and bake for about one hour until the potatoes are tender.

Tip: If you purchase organically grown sweet potatoes, you can eat the skin. If you buy non-organic sweet potatoes, it is advisable to peel them before eating.