THE Best Meatloaf

Growing up, I was never crazy about meatloaf. I mean I liked it, but I wasn't super excited, nor did I spend the day anticipating dinner when Mama told me we were having meatloaf. But it was a staple in our household and I enjoyed it.

When Mr. B and I married, I felt it was my "wifely-duty" to serve my husband meatloaf. So, I found a recipe in one of my trusty cookbooks and set to it. It tasted delicious, and the topping was fabulous. But my meatloaf wasn't a "loaf." As soon as I would slice into it, the whole thing would fall apart. (Maybe I'm exaggerating here, but to me it was falling apart. It did not stay in the coveted loaf form.) Also, I was a little discouraged because, even though I used a lean beef, the grease seemed to sit in the bottom of my loaf pan. I wasn't happy. But Mr. B really, really liked this meatloaf. He hates when I change things, but I knew I needed to find a new recipe.

Then I found Pioneer Woman.

And my new found obsession love for her brought this beautiful meatloaf into my life. Ohmygoodness, is this loaf amazing! It stays together, and I know it's not just because it's wrapped in bacon...that's neither here nor there, and all of the grease drips to the bottom! I never thought of using this pan for meatloaf. Here was this pan, just sitting in my cupboard, taking up space, waiting and wanting to be needed. Well, no more!

Now, when Mr. B tosses ground beef into our shopping cart, I can only think of one thing: Pioneer Woman's Favorite Meatloaf. And then I start salivating. I can no longer wait to have meatloaf. It's now one of my favorite dishes. This meatloaf will change your life. Your mind will ask you things like, "Where have you been all my life?" and "Why am I only learning of you now?"

When I asked Mr. B which meatloaf he liked better, without hesitation and through a mouthful of bacon-wrapped meatloaf, he said, "Umm, this one." You and me both, babe.

A few days ago I shared this fantastic meatloaf recipe with a friend of mine. She made mini meat loafs with the bacon chopped up and mixed into the loaf itself. She came to work the next day full of thanks for turning her on to her now favorite meatloaf. In turn, I said a silent "thanks" to Pioneer Woman.

Head on over to Ree's blog for THE Best Meatloaf recipe!

With Love and God Bless,
Brindi

Game Day #7: Dessert Ideas

It's Super Bowl Sunday!!!

Let the party begin!

I'm sure your party menu is planned and the spread is laid out. But here are a few last minute party menu dessert ideas.


Banana Bites (Melt some chocolate; dip in your banana slices, making sure to cover them entirely. Drizzle melted peanut butter or nut butter on top. Freeze on a baking sheet until set.)

These bites are so delicious, I can eat the whole tray.

[I'm still experimenting with these little bites, but I really like them dipped in cream cheese, then chocolate and then drizzled with peanut butter the best.]

These are the perfect dessert because guests can grab-and-go. This can be made the night before, which is also perfect for the hostess.

I've also found that an Ice Cream Bar goes over really well with party-goers. But keep it simple. Guests are going to want to get their ice cream and jet back to their spot to watch the game; they don't want to have to stand in-line while someone tries to decide which toppings he/she wants on their sundae. I recommend two flavors of ice cream and no more than four topping choices.

But I personally love dips. I like to think they last longer, are easy to throw together and will feed a crowd. This Raspberry Dip is my most current concoction. Combine everything in a bowl and serve it with an array of fruit kabobs.

The raspberries bring a bit of tartness to the dip, and I love it because it's super creamy and not super sweet. But, depending on your sweet tooth, you can easily adjust the sweetness.

Raspberry Dip with Fruit

Makes about 1 cup of dip

1/2 Neufchatel cream cheese, softened
1/2 c non-fat, plain yogurt
2 tsp powdered sugar
1/4 c fresh or frozen raspberries (fresh works best, but frozen was cheaper)
Sliced fruit, like apples, bananas, grapes, peaches, pears, etc. (pound cake or angel food cake works well, too)

Cream together the cream cheese, yogurt, sugar and raspberries until smooth. Chill until set/thickened. (This can also be done the night before.) Enjoy with desired fruit slices and cake squares.

*Note: This dip has a very strong raspberry taste, so a little goes a long way.

Let's Go GIANTS!!

Who are you rooting for?

With Love and God Bless,
Brindi

Game Day #6: Potato Skins

Whenever Mr. B and I do make it out to a restaurant, my eyes always find the appetizers on the menus. Yet, I can never bring myself to order one because I can only imagine the grease in these dishes, like onion rings, loaded fries, nachos, artichoke dip and potato skins.

Potato skins are my absolute favorite!

So when it comes to appetizers, I only eat them at home. And I jump at every chance to make my Potato Skins. I make them healthier by replacing the sour cream with Greek yogurt, and trust me (this coming from someone who can and will eat sour cream straight from the container) you don't miss the sour cream. These are perfect for Super Bowl Sunday. Simple, quick and yummy.....make these for your game-day party tomorrow!

Potato Skins

Serves as many as you need.

Russet potatoes, baked
Canola oil
Kosher salt
Cheddar cheese, shredded
Bacon slices, cooked and chopped
Non-fat, plain Greek yogurt
green onions, diced

Preheat oven 400 degrees. Slice the baked potatoes in half. With a spoon, gently scoop out the insides of the potato, making sure to leave a little bit of potato "liner" (this will keep the skin intact). *Note: You can do whatever you want with the discarded insides.

Next, brush canola oil onto the insides and outsides of the skins. Sprinkle both sides with kosher salt. lace the skins on a baking sheet, cut side down, and bake 6 mintues. Flip the skins over and bake another 6 minutes.
Sprinkle on cheese and bacon pieces. Place back in the oven, about 2 minutes or until cheese is melted. Garnish with Greek yogurt and green onions. And then devour.

Don't forget to check back tomorrow for my last

Super Bowl Party menu idea!

With Love and God Bless,
Brindi

Game Day #5: Zesty Broccoli Dip

Happy Friday!

The weekend is finally here and I am ready to get my football party-ing on. There's only a few days left until the big game, and I'm kicking off the weekend with a zesty dip perfect for game time.

Whenever I make this Broccoli Dip for Mr. B and I, it's gone before it has the chance to cool down. (Which leaves us with scalded tongues, but it's soooo worth it. Honestly, we don't mind not being able to taste anything else for the rest of the day.)

And this dip is feisty.

The red pepper flakes add a nice little kick, and you'll feel it right in the back of your throat. Oh, it's nice. Mr. B is in love. He enjoys some heat. Which makes this dish nice because you can add as much or as little heat as you want. Or you can skip the red pepper flakes altogether if you're not a fan of the spice.

Zesty Broccoli Dip

Yields: About 3 cups total

1 c Light Miracle Whip
10 oz frozen chopped broccoli, thawed and well drained
1/2 c grated Parmesan cheese
1 c shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
red pepper flakes
crackers, pita chips, veggies, etc. for dipping

Preheat oven 350 degrees. Combine Miracle Whip, broccoli, Parmesan cheese, 1/2 c mozzarella, and desired amount of red pepper flakes in a bowl. Spread into 1-qt baking dish or 9" pie plate. Bake 20-25 minutes or until heated through. Sprinkle with remaining mozzarella. Continue baking 5 minutes or until cheese is melted. Serve warm.

We're so close to the end, so don't forget to check back tomorrow for another Super Bowl Party menu idea!

With Love and God Bless,
Brindi

Game Day #4: Apple Coleslaw

It's day four of my Super Bowl Party Menu Extravaganza, and I made an executive decision to showcase a great party recipe for the female football fans out there. Not every dish on the menu needs to be fatty, greasy, meaty and "manly." Plus, I love salads and side dishes, and always try to include one when menu-planning.

This Apple Coleslaw is on the healthier and lighter side, and it is one of my favorite coleslaws. It's a great side dish to any party, get-together or cook out. And it's super easy to throw together. (Only four ingredients!)

This dish can even be made the night before, so party day isn't too hectic. And we all want to spend more time with friends and family watching football (and the commercials) than in the kitchen making food. * If making the night before, the next morning add a little extra Miracle Whip and honey just before serving if the slaw looks too dry.

The honey gives this coleslaw a lighter and fresher taste. I prefer mine with a little freshly ground black pepper. It gives it a bite. Delicious!

**Bonus: This slaw can easily be doubled or tripled. Be sure to make plenty because it will be devoured...even the men will go back for seconds.

Apple Coleslaw

Serves 12 (1/2 c each)

3/4 c Miracle Whip
1 Tbsp honey
1 pkg (16 oz) coleslaw blend
1 Red Delicious apple, chopped
1 Granny Smith apple, chopped (the different colors make the slaw pretty....but you can use whatever you have on hand)

Mix dressing and honey in large bowl. Add remaining ingredients; mix lightly. Refrigerate one hour.


Nutritional Information
Per serving: Calories 60; Fat 3; Carbs 10; Fiber 2; Protein 1

Don't forget to check back tomorrow for another

Super Bowl Party menu idea!

With Love and God Bless,
Brindi

Game Day #3: Ham & Cheese Crescents

Happy Wednesday!!!!

So who is everybody rooting for in the Super Bowl?

I know I should be cheering on the AFC but, to be honest, I am not a Tom Brady fan. (I mean, he went to that school up North. I can't support that.) I'm not a Patriots fan either. However, I am a huge, HUGE Peyton Manning fan. He is my favorite. Thus, I like the Manning family. And since Eli Manning is the QB for the Giants, I'm cheering on New York. Yet, my hubby is not the biggest supporter of the Giants right now. (He's a heart-broke and frustrated 49ers fan.) So I'm pretty sure he's rooting for New England.

Uh-oh. A split household. Hmmm, we could make this interesting....

Anyhoo, onto today's Super Bowl Party menu item: Crescent Rolls! With ham and cream cheese, these crescents are amazingly yummy, and super easy to make. Only a few steps required.

First, roll out the crescents and smear on a layer of the cream cheese mitxture.

Second, layer on your ham slices (or turkey works really well here, too).....

Next, add a layer of the mustard mixture on top of the ham slices.

Then, roll up the dough forming cute little crescents.

Place them on a baking sheet and pop them in the oven for a couple of minutes. They come out smelling fan-freaking-tastic. Oh, and try not to eat all of them.

Sometimes I make these as a quick lunch for Mr. B and I. They can be quite filling. (Probably because you've eaten like five of them before you know it because they're that good.) But when I serve these to a crowd, with other food, I like to cut each crescent into smaller pieces and stick them with toothpicks.

Ham and Cheese Crescents

Serves 8 (as party appetizer) or more if cutting into bite size pieces

1 (8-count) pkg refrigerated cresecent rolls, separated into triangles
1.5 Tbsp honey
2.5 oz Neufchatel cream cheese
1-2 green onions, chopped
4 oz thinly sliced ham (or turkey)
2 Tbsp mayonnaise
2 tsp yellow mustard

Preheat oven 375 degrees. Mix cream cheese, onions and half of honey in small bowl. In another snall bowl, mix mayo, mustard and rest of honey. Spread a little bit of cream cheese mixture on crescent dough. Layer with 2 slices of meat. Spoon some mustard mixture on top of meat slices. (*Be careful not to overfill because the spreads will ooze out and you'll have a mess.) Roll up dough into crescents. Place on ungreased baking sheet (give cresecents room to spread). Bake 10-12 minutes, or until golden brown.

*You can add as much meat as you want. When I serve these as appetizers, I like to keep them on the lighter side.
**I also play around with these, using greek yogurt instead of cream cheese, less honey and no mayo.

Nutritional Information
Per crescent roll: Calories 174; Fat 11; Carbs 16; Protein 5

Don't forget to check back tomorrow for another

Super Bowl Party menu idea!

With Love and God Bless,
Brindi

Game Day #2: Cold Vegetable Pizza

We're on day two of Super Bowl week!

And today I'm featuring vegetable pizza, which is actually shocking because Mr. B and I are not pizza fans. We might order pizza once a year. Seriously. (Come to think of it, I don't think we ordered any last year.) The only time we eat pizza is when we're at someone else's house and they order it, which is then followed by private eye-rolling and frowns from Mr. B and I. (Sorry if those people are reading! I apologize.) There's just something about pizza, with all of it's grease and empty calories, that is un-appetizing. [My dislike might be a result of both my parents managing and working at Dominoes when I was little. We had pizza every Friday night without fail.] I couldn't even touch the stuff in college. True story.

I strongly dislike pizza...especially "normal" pizza. I love taco pizza....and dessert pizza.

And this Cold Vegetable pizza. (However, I am sl.ow.ly liking pizza when I make it homemade. I make healthier crusts, and am happy that I know what's in my pizza. No grease!)

I've always loved this kind of pizza. It makes a great appetizer or snack at parties, and is a great lunch option for Mr. B and I. And the best part, you can put on whatever toppings you like, or whatever you happen to have at the bottom of your refrigerator that needs to be used ASAP.

I just happened to have this.....

Cucumbers, green peppers, lettuce, red onions and tomatoes. Sometimes I put black olives on Mr.B's half, but he already ate them.

Mmmmm. So good. I'm sure I'd have no problem eating this whole thing. But I won't. Mr. B would be hangry.

Cold Vegetable Pizza

1 pkg (8-count) refrigerated crescent rolls
1/4 c mayonnaise
2 oz Neufchatel cream cheese, softened
1 Tbsp minced chives (or fresh parsley, or 1/2 tsp dill....)
about 1 cup toppings of choice (peppers, cucumbers, red onions, mushrooms, olives, spinach, tomatoes...)
3 Tbsp shredded cheddar cheese
3 Tbsp shredded mozzarella cheese

Unroll crescent rolls and place on ungreased baking sheet; flatten dough and pinch together seams, forming one big rectangle. Bake at 375 degrees for 8-10 minutes, or until golden brown. Cool on wire rack. In small bowl, combine mayo, cream cheese and chives until well blended and smooth; spread over crust. Top with assorted vegetables of choice. Sprinkle with cheeses. Cover and refrigerate at least 1 hour. (If using tomatoes, chill for no longer because it will get soggy.) Cut into desired slices.

Don't forget to check back tomorrow for another

Super Bowl Party menu idea!

With Love and God Bless,
Brindi

Game Day #1: Nachos (Two Ways)

Since the Super Bowl is right around the corner, and I LOVE Super Bowl Parties, I've decided to dedicate this week's posts to menu ideas for the big game. We're huge football fans in this household. I love football just as much as the next man. (I come from a football-obsessed family.) My team is the Cleveland Browns. [Please keep your comments and jokes to yourself if you'd like us to stay friends.] Mr. B, however, is a die-hard 49ers fan and has been since he was a wee boy....that last game was heart-breaking.

Anyhoo, back to the party menu. My family always gathers on Sundays to watch the games, and the Super Bowl is no different. And no game-day party is complete without a big spread of nachos. Am I right, or am I right?

Here's what we put on our nachos in the Sweet B household:

• cheddar cheese
• black beans
• reduced-fat refried beans
• shredded lettuce
• tomatoes, diced
• green onions, diced
• sour cream
• salsa

I spread the nachos on a foil-lined baking sheet. Top with cheese and place under the broiler until cheese is melted. Then I top it with the beans, lettuce, tomatoes and onions. I finish it off with a dollop of sour cream and salsa. Then I set the baking sheet on the coffee table and we dig in while we watch the game. Occasionally, we will have this as a quick dinner. (And depending on if Mr. B wants a quick snack, I'll make him a small plate...where I melt the cheese on the chips in the microwave instead of the oven.)























But...sometimes, we (cough, because I have some crazy need to constantly change up Mr. B's favorites, cough) tire of our same-old nachos and crave something different. Enter the baked potato.

Just take whatever you throw on your nachos, and throw it on some baked potato wedges. Ah yes. Genius, I know.

I love nachos. I love baked potatoes...loaded. So I had the bright idea one day, when I discovered Mr. B had already devoured the recently-purchased bag of tortilla chips, to throw some potato wedges into the oven and top with my nacho favorites. And tada! Potato Nachos!

The "Baked Potato "Part

Just cut some potatoes into wedges (as thick or as thin as you like), toss with olive oil, salt and pepper, and then spread onto a foil-lined baking sheet.

Bake at 425 degrees for 20 minutes. Flip potatoes over and bake another 20 minutes or until done.

Add your favorite toppings, then add cheese.

Place under the broiler for 2 minutes, and then finish off with a dollop of sour cream, salsa, or guacamole (or whatever floats your boat).

Check back tomorrow for another

Super Bowl Party menu idea!

With Love and God Bless,
Brindi