Tag: comfort food

What’s For Dinner: Yellow Squash Casserole, like Dixie Cafe’s Classic!

As of today, we’ve been “social distancing” here in Arkansas for almost a month now. Personally, all I want to eat is comfort food! I also don’t want to keep packing on the “Corona 15”.

So, here’s a recipe that helps be kill two birds with one stone: squash casserole, just like Dixie Cafe used to make, but healthier without giving up on flavor. It truly is a great comfort food and brings me back to my childhood!

This easy recipe is one of my all-time favorite side dishes for any time of year and it is easy to tweek and make it your own. Here’s how to make this very comforting dish:

Ingredients:

6-7 medium yellow squashes
1 yellow onion
1-2 garlic cloves (optional)
1/2 stick (1/4 cup) butter
4 eggs
1 1/4 dried Italian breadcrumbs
salt and pepper

Directions:

1. Wash the squash! Then, cut it into even pieces for even cooking.
2. Boil the squash, with 1 teaspoon salt, for about 20 minutes, or until very fork-tender. Once done, drain completely.
3. Finely chop onion and mince garlic.
4. In a large mixing bowl, combine squash, onion, garlic, butter, whisked eggs, and 1 cup breadcrumbs.
5. Place in greased baking dish and cover the top evenly with remainder of breadcrumbs, or more if you like a thicker crust.

6. Bake at 350 degrees for about 45 minutes, or until top is browned.

Yellow Squash Casserole- like Dixie Cafe’s Classic!

Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American

Ingredients
  

  • 6-7 medium yellow squashes
  • 1 yellow onion
  • 1-2 garlic cloves or 2 tablespoons minced garlic
  • 1/2 stick butter 1/4 cup
  • 1 1/4 cup dried Italian breadcrumbs
  • 1 tsp salt for boiling squash
  • salt and pepper to taste in casserole mix

Instructions
 

  • Wash the squash! Then, cut it into even pieces for even cooking.
  • Boil the squash, with 1 teaspoon salt, for about 20 minutes, or until very fork-tender. Once done, drain completely.
  • Finely chop onion and mince garlic.
  • In a large mixing bowl, combine squash, onion, garlic, butter, whisked eggs, and 1 cup breadcrumbs.
  • Place in greased baking dish and cover the top evenly with remainder of breadcrumbs, or more if you like a thicker crust.
  • Bake at 350 degrees for about 45 minutes or until top is browned.
Keyword yellow squash, squash casserole, recipe, amy westerman, dixie cafe,

What’s for Dinner: Perfect Meatloaf Recipe

Drew loves meatloaf, but I had never had a meatloaf I really enjoyed. I always thought they were dry and flavorless and needed a ton of ketchup.
But since Drew constantly requested meatloaf for dinner, I started trying out different recipes. While I never found a perfect meatloaf, I think learning from all the ones I attempted help me create my own and Drew swears it is his favorite.  So, here’s the recipe!

 

Not only are the ingredients a component, there are a  couple of tips and tricks that really make a difference in how well meatloaf turns out. Watch this recipe video for a full explanation/ demonstration.

INGREDIENTS:
-2 tbsps extra virgin olive oil
-1 large yellow onion, chopped finely
-2 bell peppers, chopped finely (I use red and orange)
-2 cloves garlic, minced
-1/2 tsp dried thyme
-2 lbs ground turkey
-1 lb ground chuck
-1/2 cup rolled oats
-1/3 cup milk
-2 tbsps Worcestershire
-1 cup tomato/spaghetti sauce
-2 tsp cajun seasoning
-1 tsp Greek seasoning|
-1 tbsp tomato paste
-2 eggs, beaten
-1 tsp salt
-1/2 tsp black pepper
-1/4 cup ketchup
-1/4 cup brown sugar
-2 tsp mustard

INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2.  Heat a sautée pan over medium-high heat. Add olive oil, onion, and
bell peppers.  Stir occassionally until onions are translucent, about
5 minutes.
3. Add garlic and thym and cook for another 2 minutes, stirring
occasionally. Set aside for later.
4. In a large bowl, add ground turkey, ground beef, oats, milk,
Worcestershire, tomato sauce, cajun seasoning, Greek
seasoning, tomato paste, eggs, salt, pepper, and cooked veggies
from steps 1 and 2.
5. With a fork, fluff/ mix everything gently. You want to keep it
aerated and light, not condensed.
6. Mix ketchup, brown sugar, and mustard and set aside.
(If you like a thicker coating on meatloaf, double this recipe.)
7. On a sheet tray, mold the meatloaf into an even loaf shape. Add
the topping mixture from step 5 evenly to cover all of the tops and
sides of the meatloaf.
*Important tip* Before putting meatloaf into oven, place a baking dish
with warm water on a rack below the meatloaf. The evaporating water
will keep the meatloaf moist.
8. Place meatloaf in the oven for 1 hour and 15 min, or until its internal
temperature reaches 155-160 degrees.
9. Let rest for at lest 10 minute before slicing. Enjoy!

If you give this recipe a try, let me know what you think!

Perfect Meatloaf

Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 1 hour
Cook Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine American

Ingredients
  

  • 2 tbsps extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 large yellow onion, finely chopped
  • 2 bell peppers, finely chopped I use red and orange for great color
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced or 2 tbsp minced garlic
  • 1/2 tsp dried thyme
  • 2 lbs ground turkey
  • 1 lb ground chuck
  • 1/2 cup rolled oats
  • 1/3 cup milk
  • 2 tbsps Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 cup tomato/ spaghetti sauce
  • 2 tsp Greek seasoning
  • 1 tbsp tomato paste
  • 2 eggs, beaten
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 1/4 cup ketchup
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 2 tsp mustard yellow or dijon

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  • Heat a sautée pan over medium-high heat. Add olive oil, onion, and bell peppers.  Stir occasionally until onions are translucent, about 5 minutes.
  • Add garlic and thyme and cook for another 2 minutes, stirring occasionally. Set aside for later.
  • In a large bowl, add ground turkey, ground beef, oats, milk,Worcestershire, tomato sauce, cajun seasoning, Greekseasoning, tomato paste, eggs, salt, pepper, and cooked veggiesfrom steps 1 and 2.
  • With a fork, fluff/ mix everything gently. You want to keep itaerated and light, not condensed.
  • Mix ketchup, brown sugar, and mustard and set aside.(If you like a thicker coating on meatloaf, double this recipe.)
  • On a sheet tray, mold the meatloaf into an even loaf shape. Addthe topping mixture from step 5 evenly to cover all of the tops andsides of the meatloaf.
    *Important tip* Before putting meatloaf into oven, place a baking dishwith warm water on a rack below the meatloaf. The evaporating waterwill keep the meatloaf moist.
  • Place meatloaf in the oven for 1 hour and 15 min, or until its internaltemperature reaches 155-160 degrees.
  • Let rest for at lest 10 minute before slicing. Enjoy!
Keyword meatloaf, perfect meatloaf, recipe, amy westerman, veggie meatloaf, best meatloaf,