After work today, Ryan and I leashed Sadie up in her new obnoxiously orange collar and leash set and took her to the dog park for an hour of fetch and playtime.
She had a blast running around after a totally disgusting tennis ball.
Sadie is a very docile dog and typically rolls over to show her belly at the slightest sign of aggression from another dog… unless she has a ball or a stick in her mouth.
Then you better watch out!
Those balls are hers. Don’t mess around! I liken her reaction to balls to me with a bowl of frozen yogurt. Stand back!
Dinner
Eventually we headed home to get to work on dinner. I wanted to try to make an Italian meatloaf and decided to get a little creative in the kitchen.
I combined several different spices, egg whites, lean ground beef, parmesan cheese and diced tomatoes to make the loaf.
We waited about 45 minutes while the loaf cooked… which was too long for me. I made myself a toasted waffle while we waited to take the edge off. I like my food fast.
Once the timer chimed signaling that the meatloaf was ready, we dug in!
Along with the Italian meatloaf, we enjoyed sautéed portobello mushrooms and onions for a little extra veggie power.
This meal was so good and really easy to make, too! A winning combination in my book.
Healthy Italian Meatloaf (Serves 5 – 6)
Ingredients:
- 1.5 lb. lean ground beef
- 1 can no salt added diced tomatoes, drained
- 2 egg whites
- 1 onion, diced
- 2 tsp. dried oregano
- 2 tsp. dried parsley
- 1 tsp. dried basil
- 2 tsp. dried garlic (fresh minced garlic or garlic powder will also work)
- 1/2 c. Parmesan cheese
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
- Combine all ingredients together in a big bowl, using your hands or a large spoon to mix everything together.
- Place meat mixture into a loaf pan sprayed with cooking spray.
- Place loaf pan in the oven and let cook for 45 minutes, or until center of the meatloaf is no longer pink.
Looks awesome! I almost made some meatloaf myself today, but ended up going with crab cakes instead.
Courtney @ Sweet Tooth, Sweet Life
Saidies facial expressions are hilarious! She is such a pretty dog!
And I looove sauteed portabello mushrooms. So juicy!
Megan
Megan, I LOVE portabellos too!! Get a nice big fat one and they make awesome burger swaps.
That meatloaf looks scrummy, much better than the ones my grandma used to make, she’d pour ketchup on the top and when it came out of the oven it would have a skin.
Also love your comparing fro yo to your adorable dog’s love of tennis balls..I’ll second that.
Cait’s a Runnerchick
That looks so yummy! I love that I could easily halve it and make it in my mini loaf pan for just me!
Melissa
Koda is usually a pansy… ahem… I mean docile, too! She flips over on her back and lets any dog sniff away. UNLESS she has a stick- then it’s on! She doesn’t care for balls, but don’t mess with her stick (sounds kind of dirty
)
Brittany (A Healthy Slice of Life)
Ha, I actually made your BBQ Meatloaf tonight and it was super yummy! I am a big fan, and so was my lovah.
Sadie is so cute
Lindsey @ Happy or Hungry
Your dog is definitely a cutie! I haven’t had meatloaf in forever, but this looks good. I’m so the same way with food…if I get to a point where I need to eat, there’s no waiting for me or I’m a grouch ball!! I totally snack while waiting for dinner haha
Char
True to my tweet…I had waffles and dippy eggs for dinner…thanks to your breakfast!
Kelly
Haha I love it!
peanutbutterfingers
Sadie’s facial expressions crack me up!!!
chelsey @ clean eating chelsey
YUM! My life is lacking in the meat loaf department these days!
Mary @ Fervent Foodie
sadie is so cute. you gaurd your toys sadie! she’s such a fun, photogenic dog!
erica
That picture of you and sadie is priceless! So is the meatloaf pic. yummm
Jamie aka “Sometimes Healthy” Girl
I love meat loaf — but yes, I wish there were a way to make it faster!
Holly @ The Runny Egg
That does look delicious! My husband makes such a great meatloaf. I’ll have to have him make this for me.
Alaina
Sadie’s pictures are so cute! Love the idea of a one dish wonder
Annette @ EnjoyYourHealthyLife
Sadie! You are simply too precious!
I love meat loaf, it has been entirely too long since I’ve made it !
Jenny @ Fitness Health and Food
haaaaaaa that’s so funny that you had to eat a bebe toasted waffle to hold you over til dinner… i do that too!!!!!!! I just consider it an at-home appetizer… or, an at-home bread bowl
Allison @ Happy Tales
hi julie! i’ve been a “lurker” for a while, but i wanted to comment and say your blog is amazing!
and i wanted to leave a comment on an older post but i can’t find it . . . i have a pear-shaped body too, and i was wondering if you could do a post where you talked about how to dress for that body type? 
yay, thanks!
Lauren
I just can’t get into meatloaf! I made a terrible Mexican meatloaf with ground turkey last year – the texture was so odd. I was also afraid of not cooking it long enough!
Courtney @ The Granola Chronicles
Speaking of reading list…..are you watching the Bachelorette tonight? Wait, is it on tonight? Ok, so that had nothing to do with reading.
Melanie @ Trial By Trail
sounds yummy!
Sarah @ The Pajama Chef
Love the pictures of Sadie! YUM, can’t wait to try this recipe. My fav so far is your sweet potato meatloaf recipe!!!
Kelly
Such cute pictures with the doggies! It looks like you had so much fun
I love playing with my dogs outside. They’re about a third of the size of your babies, though! HAHAHA!
Tori (Fresh Fruition)
I recently visited this site from a link off fit sugar.com and I’m hooked! I visit once a day at least, just wanted to say keep up the good work! I love it!
Michelly
Thanks so much! So glad you found me!
peanutbutterfingers
I grilled some portabellos yesterday! I could live off these monsters. So far, grilled mushrooms are my fav way of eating them. But then again, I eat mushrooms almost every day (and that’s not stretching the truth).
Alisa @ Running with Knives
those doggie photos are absolutely adorable!!
Hannah @ Sweetly Fresh
Yay for doggie walks!! She looks super happy!
Joanna@DrizzleofSunshine
Random but I’ve seriously been CRAVING meatloaf! Must be fixed..
Jessica @ The Process of Healing
Hahaha Sadie cracks me up! My pups are the same way…so sweet but not great at sharing toys
Heather (Heather’s dish)
Just finished the Hunger Games Series.
Looking forward to diving into “Committed”
(the follow up to “Eat Pray Love”)
Marykate
I love meatloaf. I wonder if i could substitute the beef mince for veggie soy mince?
Khushboo
Love the pics of the three of you at the dog park – looks like it is really summahtime in FL!!
The meatloaf looks good, looks like a creative recipe, but I have to agree: I like my food fast too! I usually just throw a bunch of random stuff together when I don’t want to wait – aka a kitchen sink salad or quick stir fry… i would have been all over the waffle too waiting forty five minutes ;P !
Glad you are coming to the Healthy Living SUmmit this summer! Will be great to meet you in person! Bring Sadie, hahaha!!!!
Jaclyn
oooh your doggie is so so cute!
ellalinea
Mmmmm…that meatloaf looks SO yummy! I love making “flavored” meatloaves. They are SO much tastier than regular meatloaf!
The Teenage Taste
Sadie is so photogenic, and so are you! These pictures are fabulous they could be an Iams advertisements or something!
Sarah
Italian meatloaf sounds really good! Whenever I make meatloaf, which has only been twice, it never turns out right for some reason. I am going to have to try your recipe! I really like that you served portobello mushrooms with it! I really want to get some portobellos to use as a sub for hamburgers
Hope
Meatloaf is such a good way to add veggies right into a protein dish! And I love your Italian version, sounds delicious. Also, meatloaf is amazing on bread, so even if you may think only 60 year old men like meatloaf sandwiches, give them a shot!
Audrey Ellen @ My Scene and Herd
I must try this recipe!!
Julie – it looks like you also included onions in your meatloaf, is that right? If so, how much? I’d like to remake this
Mary Ann
oh my gosh! thank you so much for noticing this! i totally forgot to include an onion in the ingredient list. the recipe is now updated!
thank you!
peanutbutterfingers
Sadie is such a cutie. My dog is also in love with tennis balls. If there’s a ball in the dog park, it’s like no other dog exists in the park.
Allie
I just made this meatloaf. It was the first time I’ve ever EATEN let alone MADE meatloaf. Oh man, it was SO good.
Thanks for the recipe
Hannah Sheree
So glad to hear it!!
peanutbutterfingers
i love it!
Ögonlocksplastik