An American classic gets a serious update in this Meat Loaf with Chorizo.
When your kids are young, they look up to their parents and see us as Wonder Woman and Superman. Or, at least, that’s how I translate their admiration for us! These short people with minds of mush turn to dear Mom and Dad to answer their million questions:
“How does the car move?”
“Will a tsunami reach our house?”
“Why can’t I wear black socks with my shorts?”
Then, they grow up. And they look at you and they don’t see superheroes anymore. They see two human beings. Two FLAWED human beings. And in my almost-10-year-old’s case, two seriously flawed human beings who don’t know as much he does.
This wasn’t supposed to happen so soon. I expected this stage during the rotten teen-age years. Why is my adorable Professor ignoring our sage advice?
The Professor has heard people tell him (and his loving parents) how smart and mature he is. And now I believe, it’s gone to his head and he thinks that he’s smarter than us. We remind him that if he’s so smart, he should move out and earn a living. You know, the standard parent response.
After a few arguments, some tears shed and a week of no electronics, the Professor learned a lesson today when he bombed his speech at school:
He doesn’t know everything.
He doesn’t know better.
And, my favorite, Mommy was right. Okay, Daddy, too.
I’m sure this lesson will be forgotten on the next time he doesn’t want to take my advice or too lazy to do Daddy says. But, I will happily remind him of today and the “I told-you-so” moment I usually save for my husband.
Meat Loaf With Chorizo
A roll of Mexican chorizo is tucked in the center of this not-so-ordinary meat loaf. Recipe adapted from Emeril Lagasse, Prime Time Emeril: More TV Dinners from America's Favorite Chef
Ingredients:
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1/2 lb ground pork
- 3/4 cup onions, finely chopped
- 1/2 cup green bell pepper, finely chopped
- 2 TBS parsley, American, finely chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 eggs, large
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs, seasoned
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper, ground
- 1/2 lb smoked chorizo sausage, casing removed
- 1 cup chili sauce, *
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 350ºF.
- Apply non-stick spray to a large roasting pan.
- In a large bowl mix together until combined:
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1/2 lb ground pork
- 3/4 cup onions , finely chopped
- 1/2 cup green bell pepper , finely chopped
- 2 TBS parsley, American , finely chopped
- 2 garlic cloves , minced
- 2 eggs, large
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs, seasoned
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper, ground
- Pat half of the meat mixture into a rectangle about 9x4 inches onto the prepared roasting pan.
- Layer in the center of the rectangle:
- 1/2 lb smoked chorizo sausage , casing removed
- Mold the remaining meat mixture around and over the chorizo to cover it completely.
- Pour over the meat loaf:
- 1 cup chili sauce , *
- Bake in the over for 1 1/2 hours, basting occasionally with the pan juices.
- With a large spatula, carefully transfer the meat loaf to a serving platter and serve.
Notes:
Cooking Tips: * For a milder sauce, use ketchup or a combination of ketchup and chili sauce (pictured above).
Prep Time:
Yield: Serves 6
Cook Time:
I think I drove my parents crazy way before the teenager years. But I am sure it is a nice feeling. You should log this away and bring it up whenever he is acting cocky. I'm sure he is very smart and adorable. one day he'll listen again.
Wow, that looks really tasty!!
Great blog; happy I found you!
Mary xo
Delightful Bitefuls
Thanks, Merut. Parenting really is the hardest job I ever had. I was the perfect child, so I don't know anything about driving my parents crazy… ha! ha!
Mary – thanks for stopping by!
The meatloaf with the chorizo looks fantastic and sounds full of flavor. Nice twist on a classic dish :o)
Too funny. My kids aren't quite there yet, but I can feel it coming!
too true about the kids 🙂 Loving the idea of the chorizo inside the meatloaf, so delicious!
Chorizo in meatloaf…love it!