Turkey Meatloaf

What could be better on a cold icy day than some comfort food in the form of meatloaf? I love meatloaf and I usually use the meatloaf mix (beef, pork and veal) that is sold in stores but I'm trying to cook a little healthier for my family so this time when I went food shopping I bought ground turkey instead of beef. Someone on the message board that I frequent posted about a really good recipe for turkey meatloaf from Cooking Light that she loved. Thankfully she posted the recipe because I couldn't find it on the Cooking Light website.

I posted the original recipe below. The only changes that I made were in quantity because my package or turkey was 2 1/2 lbs so I adjusted all of the other ingredients as well and I used mozzarella cheese because that's what I had.

This was so good. In my experience turkey meatloaf tends to be bland and tasteless. This, however, was very tasty and I think will be my go to recipe for turkey meatloaf.




Turkey Meat Loaf

Preparation Time: 15 minutes
Cooking Time: 43 minutes
Other Time: 10 minutes
Yield: 5 servings (serving size: 2 slices)
3/4 cup finely chopped onion
1/4 cup finely chopped green bell pepper
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 cup (1 ounce) reduced-fat shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
1/4 cup seasoned breadcrumbs
1 1/2 teaspoons dried Italian seasoning
1 teaspoon ketchup
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1 1/4 pounds ground turkey
Cooking spray
1/2 cup ketchup
1 tablespoon light brown sugar
1 teaspoon prepared mustard

Preheat oven to 350°.
Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion, bell pepper, and garlic; sauté 3 minutes. Cool.

Combine onion mixture, cheese, and next 6 ingredients in a large bowl; tossing to moisten bread. Crumble turkey over onion mixture; stir just until blended.

Pack meat mixture into an 8 x 4-inch loaf pan coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350° for 35 minutes. Combine 1/2 cup ketchup, brown sugar, and mustard in a small bowl; stir well.

Spread ketchup mixture over meat loaf and bake an additional 5 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes.

Remove meat loaf from pan. Cut into 10 slices.

Newborn Newsboy Cap

My BFF asked me to make her a hat for her soon to be born baby boy. This is the first boy in our circle of friends so I searched for just the right pattern. As soon as I saw it I knew it would be perfect so I emailed it to my friend and she agreed.



Isn't that the cutest hat you've ever seen?? Wait....to give you an idea of just how small it is I enlisted Stephanie's doll Lucy to model the hat for your viewing pleasure.




I usually love to search for free patterns but there are times when I find a pattern that I love and I'm will to pay for it. Once again I have gone to Speckled Frog Crochet and could not be happier. The patterns are very clearly written and I like that she has instructions to make this Newsboy Cap in sizes newborn through 3 years.

I can't wait for Baby Boy G to be born and to see him wearing his hat! Now I just need to work on his blanket.

Infinity Scarf

My friend came to visit me a couple of weeks ago and she was wearing an infinity scarf and I loved it. I hate to buy stuff when I can make it myself at home for a lot cheaper. I went online and looked up some patterns but didn't *love* anything that I saw so I decided to wing it and came up with this.



I originally wanted to join my chain with a slip stitch and just continue to crochet around but the chain kept on twisting so I abandoned that idea and just slip stitched the two ends together.





Infinity Scarf

Yarn: 2 skins of Red Heart Soft (I used Wheat)
Hook Size: I - 9

Chain 200
Row 1: Half double crochet in second chain from hook across.
Row 2: Chain 2, turn, working in back loops only half double crochet in each half double crochet across.
Repeat Row 2 until the scarf reaches desired width. I did about 20 rows.

Finishing: If you prefer you can sew the ends together using a yarn needle or you can slip stitch the ends together like I did.


I am working on another version of this scarf and will post again in a few days.

I think I have a problem

I seriously cannot stop read Fan Fiction. I have so many stories bookmarked on my laptop that as soon as I finish one I begin another. I am also reading a real book that I am really enjoying called, "The Red Tent". I'll review when I have completed it. I have also been crocheting and will be posting a pattern in the next couple of days. But for now here are a bunch of fics for your enjoyment. All of the stories that I share on here are for mature readers only.

As always click on the banner to be brought directly to the story.
WIP = Work in Progress

He gave me art and words and passion and life, but all I wanted was him. WIP

~~//~~



Edward is a rebellious newborn lashing out at those who try to help him. At his wit's end, Carlisle asks Isabella, the woman who was once his mentor, to take Edward in until his bloodlust cools.

~~//~~


"Did you just get vagina slapped by a stripper Edward?" What happens when a man-eating handmodel named Bella and Edward, an asshole who's bored w/vagina meet in Las Vegas? WIP

~~//~~


What if Bella was embraced by the Denali coven before the Cullens? After Bella finds happiness and sisterhood that she never had, how have would her relationship with Edward panned out then?


~~//~~



When Edward left after Bella's 18th birthday Jacob was left to pick up the pieces. What happens when Bella wakes up 4 years later on the side of the road next to her lifeless husband realizing he isn't the only one who's dead? WIP

~~//~~



Bella and Alice were best friends, which made Bella the only girl off limits to Alice's brother Edward. When a party the summer after graduation gets out of control, Bella's world is turned upside down. "He doesn't know. I don't want him to." WIP


~~//~~



Bella once told a lie. A lie that cost her everything she ever wanted. 10yrs later, she returns to her hometown to an ailing father, an angry ex-best friend, and the man from whom she has kept a secret that threatens to unravel her existence. WIP

~~//~~



Bella prefers the virtual to the actual, but feels herself being tugged from the safety of her online realm into the world of a rough edged Edward. This time she'll write her own story.

~~//~~



When Private Eye Edward Cullen decides to investigate the "accidental death" of an old friend, he finds more people are involved then he originally theorized as the case takes twists & turns he never saw coming after Bella Swan arrives in town.

~~//~~



The Goal: Lose 70lbs. The Prize: One steamy night with her personal trainer. When overweight Bella is left by her husband, she is determined to lose weight with the help of Edward Masen. What starts off as payback ends up as so much more.


~~//~~


Edward is an actor filming in Forks where he meets Bella. Their worlds are different, but when they're together, they are just Edward and just Bella. Can they survive when their pasts come back to haunt them?


~~//~~



Competitive figure skater Bella Swan meets NHL hockey player Edward Cullen. Bella's Olympic dreams are crushed by injury. Can he help her find the strength to take the ice again? Will they find love and friendship in the meantime?

~~//~~

An Untitled Continuation of the Twilight Saga
This story begins almost six years after Bella became a vampire. Renesmee is almost an adult and has begun to attend an all-girls private school while the rest of her family begins classes at the nearby public school. The story has shifting point-of-view.

C is for cookie....

...that's good enough for me. C is for cookie...that's good enough for me. C is for cookie...that's good enough for me. OH! Cookie, cookie, cookie starts with C!


Is that song stuck in your head now, too? Thank you, Cookie Monster. LOL!

I've been following a new blog called I Was Born to Cook. Melissa is on the message board that I go on and she is always very helpful and generous with sharing recipes. I am so happy that she has finally started her own blog.

I saw this recipe for Hidden Kisses on her blog and just had to make them. The only thing that I did differently was that I didn't sprinkle the cookies with confectioners sugar but only because I forgot to. They were still delicious!

Ricotta Cookies

Melissa's blog is quickly becoming one of my favorites. I already have several things I want to make.

I originally saw the recipe for Ricotta cookies posted on the message board that I frequent. I had bookmarked it and then forgot about it until I saw that Melissa had blogged about it.

I really loved how simple these cookies were to make. My husband is not really into sweets but he really enjoyed these since they weren't too sweet. I think these cookies will be made every year for Christmas. Click here for the recipe.

Brownie Covered Oreos

Doesn't that sound like a brilliant idea? Let me write it again.....brownie covered Oreos....MMMMMM.

As soon as I opened up the email from Picky Palate I knew I was going to make these for Christmas. They were easy and delicious and not just for Christmas! Click here for the recipe.