January 3, 2022
Our New Normal
Tiger Lily wants to explain to everyone that her blogs are going to change, starting with the next one.
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How Many Ways Can You Say Meatloaf? |
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This time of year, almost everyone looks to comfort food. Some, more than they should. Tiger Lily presents a series of four “meat”loaf recipes.
#4 of 4: Philly Cheesesteak Meatloaf
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pounds lean ground beef
- 4 oz. provolone cheese, cut into small cubes
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 green bell pepper, finely chopped
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 yellow onion, finely chopped
- 1/2 cup seasoned breadcrumbs
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- kosher salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
Sauce:
- 2 cups whole milk
- 1 cup provolone cheese, grated
- 1/4 cup parmesan cheese, grated
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375º F and lightly grease a 9x5-inch loaf pan.
- Heat olive oil in a large pan or skillet over medium-high heat and sautè onion and bell pepper for 10 minutes, or until softened.
- Add garlic and cook for 1-2 minutes, or until fragrant. Season generously with salt and pepper.
- Remove from heat and set aside.
- Combine meat, egg, breadcrumbs, Worcestershire sauce and red pepper flakes together in a large bowl, and mix together until combined. Season generously with salt and pepper, then mix in pepper and onion and cubed provolone until incorporated.
- Place mixture in loaf pan and bake for 45-50 minutes, or until cooked through.
- Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat, then whisk in flour to create a roux. Cook for 2-3 minutes, or until golden brown.
- While whisking continuously, slowly pour in milk until incorporated and smooth, then cook for 4-5 minutes, or until thickened.
- Remove sauce from heat and mix in grated provolone and parmesan cheese until melted.
- Remove meatloaf from oven and pour cheese sauce over the top.
- Slice, serve hot and enjoy!
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Nepeta cataria, or “catnip,” is an herb belonging to the same plant family as mint. Although it originated in parts of Europe and Asia, the plant is now common across several continents, including North America.Because, like regular mint, catnip proliferates easily, many cat owners grow the plant in pots as a special treat for their feline friends. As part of the mint family, fresh catnip also smells minty, though this is not the case for the dried catnip sometimes present in commercial cat treats or toys, which may smell more like dried grass.
Why is catnip such a special treat? People who share their life with a cat will know that this plant often has a marked, and sometimes very funny, effect on these beloved animals — not unlike the effect that a mild recreational drug might have on humans.
Do all felines react to catnip? Why does this plant affect cats, exactly? Is it really akin to recreational drugs? Read on to find out.
5 of 5: Is catnip safe for humans?
Although humans tend to buy or cultivate catnip purely for the entertainment of their feline friends, some people think that the plant can have a soothing effect on their own minds.
For example, some people like to brew catnip tea, and some have even tried rolling the plant into cigarettes and smoking it. “It makes people feel happy, contented, and intoxicated, like marijuana,” an older study notes.
As a supplement, people have also used catnip to treat symptoms such as coughs or toothaches, and as a digestive aid.
Is it safe? This much remains unclear. So far, there has been little research into the effectiveness or safety of catnip when it comes to treating various conditions in humans.
Some specialists suggest that catnip can cause contractions of the uterus, so they recommend that pregnant women avoid this plant.
Given the scarcity of evidence regarding the safety of this plant, however, our readers may be better off saving it for their cats’ enjoyment — that is, if they are part of the majority that do appreciate it.
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