A lot of the cooking I do doesn’t rely on recipes. I just throw things together and see if they work together. This is one of those recipes. It came about after having a discussion with a friend about what exactly meatloaf was as she had never had it before (at least that is what I gathered from the conversation-if I was wrong please correct me!) and I had mentioned that I was going to be making one today.

The most basic recipes for meatloaf consist of ground beef mixed with breadcrumbs, chopped celery, carrots, and onions which is then shaped into a loaf in a baking dish or a loaf pan. (Baking it in a loaf pan is actually not a very good way of making a meatloaf…)

I had intended on making this meatloaf relatively simple but when I went into my fridge I realized some key ingredients were actually missing. I didn’t have celery or onion. So I had to improvise using what I did have on hand : carrots, zucchini, roasted red peppers, and some dried chives. And because my husband requested it when I told him I was thinking about making meatloaf, I also had some Sambal Oelek to use.

I normally add recipes here after I’ve successfully made them, not while I am making them. The meatloaf is currently sitting in the oven baking and I am already adding it here even though I am not sure that it will turn out. (I have a pretty good idea that it will.)

Not Your Traditional Meatloaf

recipe courtesy of Cheryl (me)

1 pound of ground beef

1 pound of ground veal

1 package of Stove Top Stuffing Mix (or any instant stuffing mix that you prefer - you could even use day old bread if you wanted)

About 1 cup of milk

1 small zucchini chopped

2 carrots chopped

1 roasted red pepper (I used the jarred version - do not use an entire jar!)

1/2 Tbsp dried chives

1 tsp minced garlic (about 2 cloves)

1 tsp Sambal Oelek

1 egg

Put stuffing mix into a bowl. Pour milk over the stuffing mix-stir with a fork to ensure that all of the breading is coated. Set aside to let the milk absorb into the stuffing mixture.

Peel then chop fairly small both the carrots and the zucchini. Mince garlic. In a pan heat a small amount of oil and butter. Add to that the chives and garlic-stirring for a minute or so to coat the chives. Add the zucchini and the carrots. Stir occasionally until soft about 4-5 minutes. In the mean time chop up what you would consider 1 roasted red pepper. (If you have a fresh roasted red pepper then you don’t have to eye ball it.) And add it to the vegetables in the pan. Place the mixture into a small bowl to cool. Mix in the Sambal Oelek. (Remember this is really spicy so use sparingly!) Set aside to cool.

In a third bowl combine veal and ground beef. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Mix in the egg. Add roughly a cup and a half of the stuffing mix to the meat mixture. Mix thoroughly. Add the vegetable mixture mixing until incorporated.

Place meat mixture into baking dish and form into loaf. Bake at 350 for 60 minutes.