Meatloaf

Labor Day has passed, school is in full swing and the mornings are beginning to get cooler. Little by little it's beginning to feel like fall. I'm looking forward to this fall. Lots of new opportunities are on the horizon. Next month I'm attending the Blogher Food conference in San Francisco and I'm excited to announce I'll be speaking on the panel entitled, "New to Blogging? How to stand out in a crowded food atmosphere." I'm thrilled to meet many people whose blogs I've followed for quite some time and spend time with friends, talking about food and writing. If you are attending please let me know. I'd love to meet you!

One of my all-time favorite family meals for fall/winter is meatloaf. This is a new favorite, not something I grew up eating. For years I've made my meatloaf with breadcrumbs as a binder but the other day I wondered if a gluten-free grain would work just as well. I cooked up a small pot of quinoa and used it as a replacement for the breadcrumbs and it worked beautifully. The added whole grain provides benefits like extra protein and a bit of fiber. Our family usually fights for the leftovers the next day. I like to cut thick slices of leftover meatloaf and cook it in a little olive oil. Meatloaf sandwiches also score huge points, with good crusty sourdough.


Meatloaf
It's important to finely dice the vegetables, so I blitz them a few times in the food processor to save time. I usually serve this with buttermilk mashed potatoes or brown rice and a salad.
Serves 8

2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 carrot, finely chopped
1 stalk celery, finely choppped
1 red bell pepper, finely chopped
2 teaspoons sea salt
1 teaspoon dried thyme
3/4 cup quinoa, cooked
1 large egg, gently beaten
1/2 cup heavy cream
2 pounds ground beef
6 pieces bacon, pastured preferred
2 tablespoons maple syrup

Preheat oven to 350°F and adjust rack to middle position. Heat oil and butter over medium heat in a large skillet. Add carrot, celery and bell pepper and saute for 5-7 minutes, until soft. Make a well in the center of the pan and add salt and thyme and stir until fragrant (about 30 seconds), then stir into the vegetables. Remove pan from heat, let cool for about 10 minutes. In a large bowl combine quinoa, egg, cream and beef. Add cooled vegetables and stir until combined. Pour mixture into a 9x11-inch baking dish and form into a large loaf. Arrange bacon in a criss-cross pattern on top and using a pastry brush, brush with maple syrup. Pour 3/4 cup of water on the bottom of the pan (the loaf will be surrounded by water. This keeps the meatloaf moist). Bake for 1 1/2 hours until golden brown. Let meatloaf rest for 10 minutes before serving.

Because of a lack of time this week, the second photo is from istockphoto.