I was busy working away in the kitchen, prepping our dinner… in my formal wear.
At least I had the forethought to put on an apron, right?
I was wearing a formal dress because Ryan and I will be attending a fancy schmancy black tie event on Saturday night and I wanted to try on my options before the big day. I was too lazy to change into comfy clothes before prepping dinner, so cooking in a silky gown sounded good to me!
Eventually I did change clothes and we headed out on a walk with Sadie while dinner cooked in the oven.
We arrived home to an apartment that smelled fantastic! I quickly threw some kale in the oven to roast after tossing it in olive oil and garlic salt (350 degrees for 20 minutes) and in no time at all we had a hot dinner ready for eatin’!
On the menu for this evening was Asian meatloaf! I created the meatloaf based on a recipe from Cooking Light that I revamped.
We served the meatloaf with a side of roasted kale to round out the meal.
I went back for seconds thirds of the meatloaf! It was really good and one Ryan and I agreed we’ll definitely make again. (We still prefer our favorite BBQ meatloaf, but I’m not sure anything can top that!)
Time to hang with my little family.
How cute are these two? Sadie is looking at me like I interrupted a precious moment with her daddy… which I’m about to do again! Watch out, dog!
Asian Meatloaf (Adapted from Cooking Light)
Ingredients:
- 1 1/4 cup whole wheat bread crumbs (I pulsed two wheat sandwich thins in the food processor to make my own bread crumbs)
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 3/4 cup chopped onion, chopped
- 1/4 cup hoisin sauce
- 1/2 cup zucchini, chopped
- 1 tablespoon low-sodium soy sauce
- 1/2 tablespoon ginger
- 1/2 tablespoon minced garlic
- 2 large egg whites
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 350°.
- Combine bread crumbs, beef, onions, zucchini, hoisin sauce and remaining ingredients except cooking spray into a large bowl.
- Spray a loaf pan with cooking spray.
- Transfer meat mixture into pan and bake for approximately 45 minutes.Let stand 5 minutes.
- Enjoy!
I made meatloaf once before (a Mexican rendition) – something went wrong and I’ve sworn off meat that is in the shape of a loaf! Haha, that being said, this Asian version looks pretty darn good!
Courtney @ The Granola Chronicles
Will you post a pic of you in your pretty formal gown without the apron (which is super cute by the way!)??
Katie @ Healthy Heddleston
sure! i will likely wear it on saturday, so i’ll be sure to post it on the fashion page soon.
peanutbutterfingers
What a cute dress and apron! I just love your style!
Michelle
You are the cutest cook ever
Runeatrepeat
Love that apron!!
Kelly
Cute dress! This recipe looks great! I love meatloaf! I think I’d shred the zucchini though, to get a more consistent texture. And because my husband thinks he doesn’t like zucchini so I have to hide it when I cook with it (I love it). He always likes the dishes I hide it in though! I don’t get it haha.
Elizabeth
Haha, Sadie’s face!! Love the apron/gown look, I think you’re on to something…
BBQ meatloaf is an easy win here, I made it just last night, ironically!
natalie
I’m all about the Asian flavah these days…the meatloaf sounds phenomenal!
Heather (Heather’s dish)
ohh what a great idea! hoisin stands in for the sweetness that ketchup usually offers. I definitely want to try it
Jenny @ Fitness Health and Food
Love the apron — it is super cute!
The meatloaf looks great — I don’t make meatloaf often enough!
Holly @ The Runny Egg
You are hilarious in that dressy gown and apron!
Blog is the New Black
So adorable! PS – I want some kale chips!
Jamie aka “Sometimes Healthy” Girl
Hahaha I love it. If that’s the yellow gown you were worried about, it looks really pretty!
Gabriela @ Une Vie Saine
I love that you are cooking in a fancy dress. So funny.
chelsey @ clean eating chelsey
I really want to try this recipe.. so different and it looks delicious! And I always stay in my dressy clothes for longer than I need to.. I know I’m too lazy, but I like to say “my outfit’s too nice to change this soon”! Haha
Arianna @ Laughter & Linguini
You crack me up! Love that apron!
Abby
Gah, I need someone to cook for! Meals like that are just too elaborate to cook for a single college gal!
Emily
you could try making half of the recipe and freezing it! just an idea!
peanutbutterfingers
I agree cooking for others is more fun. But I cook for myself a lot and have a freezer full of soups, lentil loaf, black bean burgers, marinara sauce and falafel. It’s great because I can justify making fancier meals and I have healthy frozen foods for fast dinner when I don’t have time to slave in the kitchen all night.
Shady
Love all your meatloaf recipes! Mainly because 1. They are always tasty and 2. They are always easy-peasy!
Lisa @ I’m an Okie
Adorable pic of you in the apron!!
Your last post about moving in together….loved it!
Averie (LoveVeggiesAndYoga)
Your BBQ meatloaf was a hit at my house, so I’ll have to try this version. It sounds/looks delicious!
Lyss
Where did you buy that apron?! Super cute!
Steph
i got it as a gift from my mom and sister at my bridal shower. i’m really not sure!
peanutbutterfingers
Anthropologie has super cute aprons!
Shana @ 100lbsandcounting
Love you apron looks like an anthropologie one!! Asian Meatloaf sounds so good! Maybe I’ll try it next week…I’ll add it to my menu!
Chelsea J
I looooove your apron!
Julie @ Lettuce Choose Healthy
I can’t wait to see your dress on Saturday! Sounds like a lovely dinner. I haven’t eaten much meatloaf in the past, but yours sounds good AND looks good – which is not something that I’d normally say about meatloaf!
Angela @ Eat Spin Run Repeat
Haha, all you need are pearls!
YOu look adorable. 
Lauren
Honestly when I came on here I thought that was a dress. I didn’t realize it was an apron until I read further. In fact, I thought the title “Asian meatloaf” was that you were wearing an Asian dress making meatloaf. The apron totally goes with the dress! SO cute! I’ll pay you $20 to wear the apron/dress combo to the fancy shmancy dinner
Lauren
LOVE that picture at the end! Super cute!
Katy (The Singing Runner)
I think it’s hilarious that you cooked in a nice dress-haha! But at least you had a great apron to boot
Have a great night with your little fam!
Annette @ EnjoyYourHealthyLife
I swear every guy comes home and immediately crashes full length on the couch!
Shanna, like Banana
I don’t care how ridic your outfit may be, you look HOT! But what’s new? Seriously you could pull of anything and look gorgeous
Meatloaf sounds amazing right about now. Mmmm!
Meg
I love meatloaf. I don’t know why it gets a bad rap.
I’ve never cooked in a formal gown before….good thing you had an apron.
Melissa (MelissaLikesToEat)
oooh that meatloaf sounds ilke a winner!
Sarah @ The Pajama Chef
That meatloaf looks amazing!!!!
Thanks for posting the recipe!
Gen
you look adorbs!
Have you tried cooking light’s santa fe meatloaf?? Topped with salsa with cheese in the middle. Delish!!
tracey
Oh gosh, you are absolutely the cutest. I bet Ryan didn’t mind coming home to his wife in the kitchen in a slinky dress/apron
ha!
Brittany
Oh yum! The meatloaf looks delish. Thanks for sharing. I will have to try it. Thanks for the treadmill workout this morning too. I am on vaca right now and I am headed to the hotel gym in the morning to get my workout in… this helped me plan my attach on the treadmill. Thanks!!!
Bethany RN
Julie! How can you not eat carbs at dinner! Total, your dinner probably had about 300 calories. As an athlete, you should be fueling your body more and having a more well rounded meal.
Laura Rose
I don’t post everything I eat and if you click the link to the Cooking Light version, they have nutrition facts and the meatloaf actually has almost as many carbs as protein.
peanutbutterfingers
Sadie’s face just screams, “How rude!!”
Haha, love it.
Annie
I am the same way. I can’t even tell you how many times I have cooked in clothes I shouldn’t have. I get to lazy to change out of it so I “try” not to get anything on it. I love your apron.
Megan@Dirty Dishes Daily
Ahhh, I love your apron! I collect them
Kate (What Kate is Cooking)
I already thought you were cute as a button but that apron is absolutely precious on you! This was a great post!!!
Carla @ Will Run for Health
Looks yum. Do you think this recipe would work with veggie mince (soy) instead?
Khushboo
wohoo! love the apron! Sadie- i still cannot get over how cute she is!!!!
Carrie
Aw, Sadie is such a cutie! I love the picture of her and Ryan.
That meatloaf sounds really good! I would have never thought of making it with Asian flavors. YUM!
The Teenage Taste
That meatloaf looks really tasty! I love your apron too! It’s super cute! Sadie and Ryan look so adorable!
Hope
You are so cute, and I am so impressed that you managed to prep dinner without getting any on that dress! I would end up with meatloaf all over me, apron or no!
Caitlin @ The Caitie Experiment
That meatloaf looks so good! I gave up meat for lent so a loaf of meat sounds really good about now. I love the pic of Sadie and Ryan. Our dog is the same way. When my husband gets home our dog is his shadow the rest of the night, such a daddy’s girl!
Heather@girlyeverafter
Is the meatloaf raw? Maybe it’s just the color of the picture?
I would be worried to cook in a fancy dress because the smell of the food would get into it.
Liz
haha no, definitely not raw.
peanutbutterfingers
Bahahah I love the Sadie/Ryan cuddle pic, so cute!!
Laura @ prettylittlewords
This looks like a great recipe! What kind of ginger did you use? Fresh? Powdered?
Thanks!
Debbie