It’s MARCH! That means Eat Like a Dinosaur is just around the corner! In honor of our book’s release, we are the Featured Chef this month over at US Wellness Meats. We’ll be sharing a brand new recipe every week this month featuring products from the preeminent online pastured meat distributor. We’ve tried a BUNCH of US Wellness Meat items and can tell you two things: (1) We’ve never been disappointed (2) Their customer service is phenomenal!
You know how kids love cupcakes? Ever wonder why a kid will always go for a cupcake over a regular slice of cake? It’s smaller, held in the hand, and has a top you can lick the frosting off of like an ice cream cone!
At the same time, we know that a staple meal for many families is meatloaf, another food that comes in slices. Some kids don’t enjoy the bread-like slices of meat, so why not make meatloaf cupcakes instead? Our recipe packs in a lot of “chocolate chips” (or, in this case, vegetables), and ices the top with a caramelized thick tomato sauce. The result is so delicious, your kids will want a half dozen. And you’ll want them too!
Meatloaf Cupcakes
Ingredients
Meatloaf
2 Tbsp lard
1/2 C diced onion
1/2 C diced mushroom
1/2 C diced celery
1/2 C diced carrot
2 lbs 75/25 ground beef (our favorite US Wellness Meats item!)
1 lb. ground pork
2 eggs
1/2 C almond or coconut or other flour
1 Tbsp sea salt
2 tsp Italian seasoning
1/2 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp oregano
1/2 tsp ground black pepper
Sauce
2 C tomato sauce
2 Tbsp tomato paste
2 Tbsp honey
Instructions
- Melt lard in large pan over medium high heat
- Saute vegetables for about 8 minutes, until onions are translucent ♥ stirring occasionally
- Meanwhile, simmer tomato sauce, tomato paste and honey over medium heat for 15 minutes, ♥ stirring frequently
- ♥ In separate bowl, combine meats, eggs, flour, spices, and cooked vegetables, incorporating by hand
- ♥ Fill muffin tins (preferably silicone or silicone lined; do not use paper liners!) 4/5 full
- ♥ Top each meatloaf cupcake with 1/2 tsp of sauce
- Bake cupcakes for 30 minutes at 350 degrees; makes 36 “cupcakes”
Any step marked with a ♥ is a step our littles enjoyed helping with. Feeds 6-8. I know it seems like a lot of meatloaves to make, but they were a big hit for our family of five. Only a few were remaining at the end of dinner, and those were begged for at lunch the next day!
