I am not a fan of meatloaf simply because it always tastes best with the sauce and I’m not a fan of anything that has ketchup on it. I hate anything sweet and sour. It just tastes so wrong to me. Even its supposed aroma doesn’t smell good to me! So while I love meat, meatloaf is something that I never learned to love. The first time I ever tasted it was when Mom was trying the recipe recommended by a friend. She didn’t want to waste the meatloaf so we had to eat it. First taste and I did a form of escape, something that I had never done for food. Let’s just say I was hungry that night. And every night, when there’s meatloaf on the menu.

And then I tasted this. I’m now an adult so I feel more confident in tasting dishes that don’t fit my taste. This was a recipe found by a friend over at Southern Bite. The first question I asked was, “does it still have ketchup as its sauce?”. When she said yes, I was about to retreat. But then I smelled the aroma and decided to give it a try. Surprisingly, even with that hint of sweet and sour, I liked it. It smells so good and the sourness is not as overwhelming to the taste. Meatloaf is still not on my favorite list of food, but this particular recipe just took a place on it. Meatloaf lover or not—you have to try this!

Photo and recipe courtesy of the Southern Bite.

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Quick Tip: You can use a “meatloaf mix” that is part ground beef part ground pork.

When my brother and I were still kids, our parents always brought us to our favorite fast food restaurants at least once a month. This was their way of indulging us and controlling our fast food intake at the same time. They both believed that if they deprived us of it, it would backfire. So, at least once a month, we got to enjoy those juicy burgers and yummy fries. In between our visits Mom used to indulge us at home by cooking a homemade, healthier version of our favorite fast food treats. My favorite has to be her burger and fries casserole, which was mostly composed of ground beef, lots of cheese, and fun-shaped potatoes.

This burger and fries recipe that I discovered over at Betty Crocker gives these fast food treats another make over. This time, it’s in the form of a pot pie. I think it’s a genius recipe! Even my niece and nephews will enjoy this. They can be granted this pie at least once a month. I am pretty sure that once those kids have a taste, they will never ever look at homemade pies the same way again. It can also be a way of reducing those trip to the fast food restaurants!

Photo and recipe courtesy of Betty Crocker.

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Quick Tip: Serve this pot pie with ketchup if desired.

I first tasted lamb chops in middle school. We had this cooking class and we were divided into groups. I was put into a group with no sense of food adventure so we had to do burgers. The worse thing was; we had to use frozen burgers instead of making them by hand because my groupmates were all lazy. The first group to do a live demo in front of the class had lamb chops as their recipe. I couldn’t exactly remember what they did because I was too busy grumbling on the sidelines. All I could remember was the delicious smell that wafted inside the room, making everyone hungry even if everyone just ate lunch.

I remember my Dad telling me once that lamb meat has that certain smell that isn’t very tempting. So I was surprised that it has “an aroma” instead of “the stink” that I was expecting. When I was offered a piece by the group, it also tasted very delicious. They just fried it; but it was really tender and moist. The flavor of the lamb was so distinguished that even with the seasoning, it stood out. This recipe that I found bakes the lamb meat instead of frying it. But even with different methods, the taste of the lamb still stands out.

Photo courtesy of Weeknight Gourmet. Recipe courtesy Mr. Food.

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Quick Tip: Serve with your favorite wine.

Who here is a fan of Sloppy Joe sandwiches? Who here is a fan of tater tot casserole? What if I told you that the two of these classic meals collided and turned into a delicious casserole called Sloppy Joe Bake? It’s true, and it’s happening in my oven right now.

As I type this, I can smell the heavenly aroma of Sloppy Joe sauce, cheese, and tater tots cooking, and I’ve gotta be honest, it smells dang good. I can barely wait for the timer to go off so that I can dig into this amazing casserole. I anticipate that it shall taste wonderful. It was also super easy to make. Who here likes easy-to-make casseroles? That should be everyone.

Recipe courtesy of Galona Mission.

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Quick Tip: This casserole is super easy to double when feeding a large crowd.

I don’t know about you, but this recipe takes me back to my grandmother’s table. Cabbage rolls, or “Pigs in a Blanket” as she liked to call them, were a staple part of Sunday dinners down on the farm. A mixture of seasoned ground pork and beef stuffed into crisp cabbage leaves that are smothered in tomatoes will make the pickiest eater’s mouth water.

This meal is great when paired with fresh, homemade bread or rolls. I remember my grandma would always serve apple pie and vanilla ice cream after we finished our cabbage roll dinner. What a great memory. Are you ready to create your own family tradition? Grab your apron and whip up a batch of this amazing meal, tonight!

Recipe and photo courtesy of Tip hero.

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This Dorito Taco Bake recipe looks very festive and has plenty of lively flavor. It’s also a very quick recipe; the prep and baking shouldn’t take you more than an hour. I have to say, a recipe like this is about as family-friendly as it gets. It’s also a rather versatile recipe, with plenty of possible substitutions and optional extras. I have to admit, it may not be the healthiest recipe in the world (at least not as-is), but the kids will love it, and I imagine that you will find a lot to enjoy about it as well (particularly on one of those busy midweek nights).

If you want to lighten this recipe up a bit, you can substitute ground turkey for the ground beef or go with low-fat cheese and sour cream. You can also add a layer of refried beans, if you like, or go with tortilla chips instead of Doritos for a bit of a lighter flavor. If you want to experiment with the texture of the dish a bit, you can try baking the crescent rolls for a few minutes before putting the other ingredients in there or hold off on adding the chips until the last 10 minutes of baking.

Recipe and photo courtesy of Farm Wife Cooks

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Quick tip: Use a 9×13 inch glass baking dish for best results.

Hey, who doesn’t like a good taco or burrito, every now and then, but sometimes, particularly during the cooler months, a hearty soup just hits the spot better. This Beefy Mexican Rice Soup brings all of that great Mexican-style flavor in a form that’s great for warming you up on a cold but busy midweek night. It’s exactly what you need when you don’t have the time to spend your whole day in the kitchen!

I have a “Mexican night” at home regularly, but it can take a little creativity to keep things fresh. This is a great recipe for fall and winter, and how can you beat something that makes this much and is ready in an hour and fifteen minutes? This soup is a cinch to make and it is guaranteed to become a family favorite. Plus, we all know how soups only get better after a day or two, so make sure you have enough for leftovers!

Recipe and photo courtesy of Tastes of Lizzy T’s

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Quick tip: Add some of your favorite grated cheese on top.