Pregnant-Lady Meatloaf

image courtesy of Maggie Elliot

One does not have to be pregnant to enjoy eating and benefitting from this healthy meatloaf.  It is so very delicious.  One of my daughters came across this recipe while she was pregnant.  A celebrity pregnant at the same time (she does not remember who) touted the benefits of eating this meatloaf.  My daughter raved about it, so I tried it.  Both pregnant ladies were right.  Delicious cold as well as hot.  One could add other ingredients such as minced carrots to augment its long list of vitamins and minerals.
 
EnJOY​

The quantities of this dense meatloaf are up to the cook; this is just a guideline.  This nutritious meatloaf—providing folic acid, calcium, protein and, thanks to the oatmeal:  minerals, e.g., potassium, iron, and zinc, along with fiber and antioxidants—is almost better cold than hot for sandwiches.  ​

​1 to 1-1/2 pounds
   ground turkey
salt/pepper

​Recommended:  Half dark meat and half light meat.
Season ground turkey to taste with salt/pepper.

​medium-size onion
olive oil or butter

​Dice onion and sauté it in olive oil or butter until soft.

​1/4 pound finely diced
   mozzarella cheese

​Use regular mozzarella cheese, not fresh water-packed.

​1 small package
   frozen spinach

​Thaw, drain, and squeeze moisture from spinach.
1/2 pound of fresh spinach, chopped, can be used instead.

​1 egg

Slightly beat egg.

Mix above ingredients together.

1/2 to 1 cup oatmeal
milk
​

​Moisten oatmeal with a few ounces milk.  1 small can evaporated milk works well, but any milk will do.  Add oatmeal/milk to meat mixture; mix well one more time.  

​optional additive:
  3 hard-boiled eggs, peeled

​Pack mixture into a bread-loaf pan or form it into a loaf shape and place it in a cast iron pan.  Suggestion:  Insert three peeled hard-boiled eggs down the center of the loaf.  Bake meatloaf in preheated 350-degree-F oven for about 45 minutes (lower temperature a little if baking meatloaf in a cast iron pan).

​chile sauce or
salsa or
ketchup

Three-quarters through baking process, glaze loaf with chile sauce or salsa or ketchup.  Finish baking meatloaf.  Let meatloaf stand for at least 10 minutes before cutting it.

EnJOY