Freezer Meal Take 2

Meat Loaf! Need I say more? I mean who doesn't love a GOOD meat loaf. I know there are a lot of questionable meat loaf recipes out there but I found one that is not only healthy but yummy. I can say this with full confidence because my 4 year old eats it AND my dad, who is probably the most picky eater I know and loves red meat. Both even say they like it.


The best part is I make it and freeze it so it is not only yummy and healthy but also easy.


I got this recipe from the Biggest Loser Cook Book. But you can always use your favorite family recipe for meat loaf and feel free to substitute ground turkey or ground chicken for the ground beef. But you may have to alter the recipe to make that taste right so I do recommend a LEAN ground beef we use 93-95% lean ground beef, the flavor will come from the other things you put into it not from the fat in the meat.


So here is what I do. Like I mentioned in my Organization 102 blog I make a big batch like 4-6lbs of this recipe. Then before I cook it I divide it evening and put it in to Rubbermaid containers and freeze. I label the top with a piece of masking take. I put the Date, What it is, Cooking time and temp. So there is no reason to have to consult the cook book when it is time to bake.


Here is the Biggest Loser New Fashioned Meat Loaf recipe modified to be a 4lb, 4 freezer loaf recipe. (each batch yields 4 servings).


2 ½ C Old-fashioned oats
2 C skim milk
4 lb lean ground beef
2 C chopped spinach
1 C minced onion
5 Eggs (Biggest Loser recommends 8 egg whites but I like to use the whole egg)
8 tsp Italian Seasoning
4 tsp Worcestershire sauce
4 Clove garlic Minced

Directions for preparing meat loaf mix. Mix oat, and milk let it sit 3 min.  Add meat, spinach, onion, egg, Italian seasoning, Worcestershire sauce, garlic and salt. Mix together well. Press into pan. Some tips I like, I use a food processor to chop the spinach and mince the onion. I have even found that a big bag of baby spinach makes about 4 cups of chopped spinach so I chop it all and freeze the half I didn't use this time and use it next time. You can do the same thing with the onion. You know you already got the food processor our and messy might as well make this even quicker next time right?


Next Freeze (remember to label it, Date, Item, Cooking Time and Temp)


On baking day.... Pre-heat oven to 350. Lightly mist and 8/4/3” loaf pan (or I like to use an 8x8 glass baking dish). Bake for 30 minutes or until a thermometer reads 160. Let sit for 10 min, and serve.


I really hope you enjoy this. We eat it at our house just about every Friday during the winter, and serve it with baked sweet potatoes and broccoli. Yummy, warm and comforting in the cold winter months.