Week 7: Recipe #4--Meatloaf Cupcakes with Mashed Potato Frosting

I originally got this idea from the What's For Dinner blog (see link below).  I changed it up a bit and used my own meatloaf recipe.  It is sooo tasty and a fun idea for the kids.  Plus, when you bake them as cupcakes, the cooking time is cut in half.  The garlic mashed potato recipe is from the Food Network website, and they are DELICIOUS.  Anything's better with garlic, right??  I usually serve this with green beans and bread.  ***If you don't want to do the whole cupcake thing, you could just make this as a regular meatloaf--just bake it for 1 hour instead.  Makes 6 servings.

Photo from What's for Dinner? blog

For the meatloaf, you'll need:

• 1 1/2 pounds ground beef
• 2 eggs
• 2 cups fine bread crumbs (I sometimes use the Italian kind)
• 1 medium onion, finely chopped
• 1 green bell pepper, finely chopped
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 to 1 1/2 Tblsp. worcestershire sauce
• 1 Tblsp. ground mustard
• 2 tsp. salt
• 1/2 tsp. black pepper
• a mix of your favorite seasonings; I use the following:  1/2 tsp. dried thyme, 1 to 2 minced cloves garlic, 1/2 to whole tsp. Italian seasonings, 1/2 to whole tsp. oregano (I pretty much eyeball all of these, but I think these are about the measurements I use)
• 1/2 cup ketchup and 1 Tblsp. brown sugar, mixed together in small bowl
• nonstick cooking spray

For the potatoes, you'll need:

• 3 1/2 pounds russett potatoes, peeled and quartered (about 8 large)
• 2 Tblsp. salt (I'd use a bit less)
• 2 cups (16 oz) half and half
• 6 cloves garlic (I tend to use a bit more)
• 6 oz. grated parmesan cheese
• 1/2 cup shredded cheddar (I added this)

Preparation:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Spray your muffin pan with nonstick cooking spray.
2. Put the potatoes in a large pot and add enough water to just cover them.  Cover, and bring to a boil over high heat.  Once boiling, turn heat to medium.  Leave covered and cook for about 25 minutes.
3. While the potatoes are cooking, in a large bowl mix together all of the meatloaf ingredients, except for the ketchup.
4. Put meat mixture into the muffin tin; should make 12 large "cupcakes".  Sometimes I have to use two muffin pans, and I'll get 14 or so cupcakes.  Bake in oven for 20 minutes.
5. For the potatoes, heat the half and half and the garlic in a small saucepan over medium heat.  Set aside.
6. When potatoes are finished (they should break apart easily when poked), drain the water.  Add all ingredients to the potatoes in the pot.  Mix them together with a hand mixer to desired consistency.
7. After the meatloaf cupcakes have been in the oven for 20 minutes, take them out and spread the tops with the ketchup and brown sugar mixture.
8. Take a ziploc baggy (I usually double or triple bag because the potatoes are HOT) and fill it with mashed potatoes.  Cut a small hole in one of the bottom corners, and pipe the potatoes onto each cupcake to look like frosting.  Sprinkle with cheddar cheese.
9. Place cupcakes back in the oven for another 5-10 minutes.  Check that the internal temperature of the meatloaf is at 165 degrees.
10. Enjoy!!!

What's for Dinner link:  http://www.imadedinner.net/2010/10/12/i-went-there/

Food Network link:  http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/creamy-garlic-mashed-potatoes-recipe/index.html