Garden Meatloaf

I love meatloaf, and I love trying to make it different each time. My inspiration came to me when a zucchini in my garden was ready for picking. So I added a ton of herbs and veggies from the garden and the result was a very fresh, yummy meatloaf.

• 2 lbs ground beef, turkey or chicken
• 1 sweet pepper, chopped
  
• 1 small zucchini, chopped
• 1/2 a white onion chopped
• 2 cloves garlic chopped
• 2 green onions, chopped
  
• 2 Tablespoons fresh basil, parsley, oregano and chives chopped
• 2 eggs
• 1/2-3/4 cups Italian breadcrumbs (depending on texture)
• 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
  
• 1/2 cup tomato sauce or ketchup, plus some for the top

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Cook for 25-30 minutes. You can be really versatile with the veggies you throw in here. This came out really moist and the veggies were perfectly cooked!

Spinach Pesto Chicken

My garden is overflowing with basil. My husband picked some and we had two huge bunches wrapped up plastic wrap. I've never made pesto before, but I've eaten it on sandwiches and such. As I was blending up the basil, I remembered we had spinach in the fridge. Thus, spinach pesto was born.

• 2 cups packed basil
  
• 1 cup packed spinach
• 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 3 garlic cloves
• 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts (pine nuts are expensive, you can use em, but walnuts taste the same)
• 1 lb thin sliced chicken, salt and pepper
  

In a food processor or blender put basil, spinach, garlic, cheese and walnuts. Pulse and mix in olive oil while blending. Saute chicken with salt and pepper in large skillet. Remove chicken and spoon pesto over chicken. Since my whole family eats pasta, I mixed the pesto up in the pasta and put the chicken on top. You can eliminate the pasta completely. This would be awesome with shrimp too.

Citrus Cole Slaw

Hey everyone, I am back on the weight loss band wagon! I am 5 weeks post pardum and 25lbs down from the 40 I gained! I seem to be at a stall right now, but I'm working on it day by day.

This recipe is something I've made in the passed and decided to make it for my cousins graduation party tomorrow. This is an awesome recipe for all the BBQ's and parties this summer. I have mayonnaise, always have. This is a mayo free cole slaw that is SO good.

• 1 bag cole slaw mix from super market
• 2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 1 Tablespoon splenda or another sweetener
  
• 1 Tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 Tablespoon lime juice
• The juice of one whole orange
• 1 teaspoon each of salt and pepper

Add all the ingredients in a bowl. Mix well. Refrigerate over night and serve.

Introducing...

Sage Heather Kunkelman into the world!

Born April 25, 2010 (her due date!)

6lbs 6oz 20 inches long at 9:31pm

She is 5 weeks old now and is an awesome baby! Already sleeping through the night!