Day After: Mushroom and Leek Turkey Meatloaf Panini

I'll make anything you want for dinner, I told Burger Boy. We were standing in our kitchen, feeling particularly haggard from a crazed week as we did our usual scurry around for dinner routine of grabbing random bits of whatever is in our fridge and piecing them together to make something resembling a meal. He took a thoughtful pause and I sat back, waiting for his response, half expecting him to request something complicated and half expecting him to be craving the obvious burger. When he broke the silence, he prefaced his response with a "don't judge me" but then continued on to request that I make him meatloaf.

Meatloaf?!

I can't remember the last time I had meatloaf and never in a million years would have pegged him to pick meatloaf but the more I thought about it, it just seemed to make sense. It's simply comforting in every which way and was exactly what we needed. I have fond memories of my Mom making us meatloaf as kids. The way the meat is spiked with herbs and held together with eggs and breadcrumbs and topped with that classic tangy ketchup concoction that crusted up so perfectly when baked. One bite, and you just know that you're loved. There's a reason why they call it comfort food, I suppose.

So last night, I gathered up some traditional meatloaf making supplies - ground turkey (we're eating a little leaner these days), eggs, assorted herbs and panko. Then, to boost up the flavor a bit, I added thinly sliced mushrooms and leeks to give my 'loaf some personality. Gracing the top, a mixture of tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, Miso and black pepper, which gave the whole thing a nice, tangy finish. We enjoyed our meatloaf with a heaping serving of rosemary-buttermilk mashed potatoes, just to drive home the classic spirit of this dish all the way home.

Today, we were left with the remnants from last night's feast: a tupperware container of meatloaf and the craving for more. A quick purchase of some crusty sourdough bread and a couple of slices off of a brick of Cabot cheese and we were in business - meatloaf paninis for all!

Mushroom and Leek Turkey Meatloaf

- Drizzle of olive oil
- 1 package of crimini mushrooms, scrubbed clean and sliced thin
- The white part of one leek, root and green part removed and discarded

- 1/2 lb. ground dark turkey meat
- 1/2 lb. ground light turkey meat

- 1 tbs. finely chopped fresh sage, rosemary and thyme
- 1 TBS Dijon mustard
- 1 egg
- Panko, as needed
- A splash of Worcestershire Sauce
- Meatloaf Glaze (recipe below)
- Salt and Pepper to taste

Preheat the oven to 400. In a large skillet, heat the mushrooms and leeks in a drizzle of olive oil and a pinch of salt until the leeks are translucent and the mushrooms have browned. Transfer to a bowl and set aside to cool.
Once the mixture has cooled slightly, add both 1/2 lbs. of ground turkey, the herbs and mustard. Add the egg and splash of Worcestershire and mix (I find with your hands is easiest!) until it comes together. Add just enough Panko to help keep it's shape. Shape the meatloaf into a pan and spread the meatloaf glaze on top evenly. Bake for about 30 minutes or until the meat is cooked through. Remove from oven and let the meat cool for 5-10 minutes before slicing.

Meatloaf Glaze

- 1/4 cup tomato paste
- 1 TBS Worcestershire Sauce
- 1/2 tsp soy sauce
- 1 tsp Miso
- Black Pepper to taste

Combine all ingredients until well incorporated.

Ballpark Enchiladas: Sausage, Pepper and Onion Enchiladas with Beer-Cheese Sauce

Ballpark Enchiladas: Sausage, Pepper and Onion Enchiladas with Beer-Cheese Sauce

I was at Fenway Park last week and, like always, I immediately fell victim to the sausage carts. The sizzling and spattering of those sausage links as they hit the griddle and the potent and glorious smell of them cooking alongside sweet onions and peppers is hard to refuse. When you combine boisterous fans and an ice cold beer, does it get any more summer than that?

My enchilada making station

That moment of taking that first bite of a sausage sub - the juicy meat, sweet onions and peppers, neatly encased in a soft hot dog style bun - was the inspiration for these enchiladas. I wanted to capture the flavors of the sub at Fenway, in addition to the beer, but put a fun new twist on it and roll it all up into enchiladas form. 

Tortillas and Homemade Ground Sausage 

To make these enchiladas, I used TortillaLand Tortillas, something I've written about before. Around this time last year, I received a very generous shipment of TortillaLand Tortillas and made Spanish Enchiladas with them. If your not familiar with TortillaLand Tortillas, they are tortillas in their raw, doughy state that you just toss into a heated, non-stick skillet for 30 seconds on each side and then they're good to go. I think they're an awesome and more flavorful alternative to the average tortilla. 

TortillaLand Tortillas 

The fresh tortillas in addition to making my own ground up sausage, spiked with toasted fennel, fresh herbs and crushed red pepper flakes, is what made these something special. And the fact that the onions are caramelized in a dark Porter, doesn't hurt the cause either. If all of this hasn't convinced you to give these a try, maybe the beer - cheese sauce that blanketed the top will. A duo of cheeses (provolone and mozzarella) combined with a sturdy Porter and a healthy dose of Dijon mustard created a creamy, cheesy and intensely flavored sauce - make these for your crowd! 

A peek inside..

Recipe after the jump!

Thanksgiving Recipe Inspiration

With my favorite holiday quickly approaching, I'd be remiss if I didn't provide a couple of ideas to those that are responsible for the holiday cooking. Even if your plan is to avoid the kitchen and instead park in front of the tv for some football action, there's no reason why you can't stash away these late fall inspired recipes for another day, right? Here's a couple of recipes that are some of my favorites for this time of year, and especially good for any Thanksgiving Day feast.

Starting things out, I find a great way to begin a big meal is with a soup. I make a similar version for my clients pretty regularly and this soup is a nice little nod to this season's flavors, not to mention, it's easy to make.

Bacon and Sweet Potato Soup with Sage 

Celery Root is just starting to come into season. Once that ugly, knobby exterior is peeled, it can be cooked fairly similarly to potatoes and mashed up just the same. With just with a slightly sweet celery taste to it, it's a nice change of pace from the standard mashed potato.

Mashed Celery Root

Staying with sides, Sweet Cinnamon Glazed Carrots always make an appearance at my Thanksgiving dinner table. When the carrots are roasted in honey, cinnamon and a bit of brown sugar, their sugars all concentrate and you're left with an addictingly sweet side dish.



Moving on to a healthy little side dish, this Pomegranate Quinoa Salad gets its texture from all of its different components. The quinoa has a naturally satisfying little "pop" to it and the Pomegranate seeds only echo that, as well as add a sweet and tangy note to the dish.

Pomegranate Cranberry Quinoa Salad

I think that twice-baked potatoes put a great spin on the average, played out Thanksgiving day mashed potatoes. Not to mention, twice baked potatoes can be made way in advance and then just warmed up right before dinner.

Twice-Baked Potatoes 

I'm really looking forward to the holiday. We're heading to my parent's house in Western Mass for a couple of days and we're looking forward to just relaxing. Oh, and we're deep frying a turkey (again...yes!). Happy Thanksgiving!

Was the Perfect Burger Found at Post 390?

Walking into to Post 390, I was greeted by atmosphere of swankily dark and modern furniture, walls of exposed brick and a slew of tables packed tightly and going on seemingly forever throughout this spacious two-floor restaurant.  The dining room offered dramatically large windows that welcomed in some natural light and at only about a year old, this restaurant was filled to the brim and bustling with business folks, Back Bay residents and visitors.  Somewhere in the mix of all of this sat me and my dining companion, the Burger expert himself, Richard, from Boston Burger Blog.  Richard's blog is about his quest for the "Perfect Burger" and when he invited me to tag along to try out one of the contenders, I was psyched and already getting hunger pangs for a big, juicy cheesy burger.

So there we sat, talking shop ("shop" in this case of course being food) when we were presented with our cheeseburgers.  They looked like your average good old fashioned cheeseburger.  Dressed up slightly by a spear skewering pickles and a little sliver of jalepeno pepper, they looked your average run of the mill cheeseburger.  I bit into mine and was instantly satisfied by the familiar taste of cheeseburger.  I did however think the sesame flecked bun was a little lacking as the top was sort of oddly peeling off (and not because it was toasted) and for $15, I thought the bread holding together my sweet juicy burger could have been a little better.  Accompanying my burger was a side of hot salty French fries.  There wasn't anything terribly outrageous with these, but they still hit the spot.

Post 390 Cheeseburger

In sum, I liked the burger, really I did.  It was good but I don't think it was $15 good.  There wasn't much special about it as I would have expected for that amount of money.  While by nature I tend to be a little money-conscious, I don't mind paying top-dollar for something at a restaurant that I think will knock my socks off.  This really didn't and I probably wouldn't cough up another $15 for it again.  Although it appears that Post 390 is not the home of the perfect burger, I'd give it another go to see what the rest of their menu is like.

(You can check out Richard's recap on the Post 390 Burger HERE)

Piggin' Out at the Back Bay Social Club

Last night I met up with some fabulous folks from the Blogging community at the (relatively) newly opened Back Bay Social Club.  There, we sipped on beverages in their spacious and sleek dining room and then we pigged out on some pretty serious pork-related eats.  I love when great foodie minds come together to parrrrty!

Before I get to the food, first, let me start off by telling you a little about this new addition to Boylston Street fare.  Housed in what used to be a Vinny T's, the Back Bay Social Club aims to be a place for people to casually gather around drinks, eats and good company.  The atmosphere is comfortable, with bright red seats contrasted by deeply colored woods, vintage accents and shiny hardwood floors, it has that "Speakeasy" sort of feel to it.  It's two floors and ample space for crowds.  It also has a nice little sidewalk patio, although sadly, that won't be used for quite a while, now that we're approaching cooler months.

Now getting to all the food, there was just so much!  I liked how their items were made in-house (which makes things easier for a processed-free October!) We were first presented with the house garlic sausages, which were wrapped in homemade pretzels (man, ask the universe and you shall receive!) and served with a side of ale mustard.  These were buttery and addictive.  I tired to ignore the slick little pools of grease left by them (everything in moderation and balance, right?)

Next up was kielbasa slices served up in a bourbon sauce with chunks of pineapple.  My inner-Pollack was thrilled to see these guys placed in front of us!

After that, we were presented with white Russians.  It was an interesting choice for a palate cleanser but I went with it..

Next on the list was fresh slices of ham served on baguette slices with arugula and a red pepper relish..

And then was my favorite, cheese boards!  Served with honey, baguette slices, arugula and a delicious jammy spread, I was all over this!

Wow, as I'm reviewing all of this I'm getting full all over again at how much we ate!  And I'm still not done yet!  The next one is a little crazy here and something I had never actually tried before, head cheese?  I say that with a question because I know it's components are rather "unique" and I'm not exactly sure all of what's it (and I'd prefer it that way, thank you very much).  However, living by my policy of trying (almost) everything once, I gave it a shot.  I'm not so sure I'd jump back into a giant helping of this.  It's just not for me.

And then...it was on to desserts.  We were presented with FIVE different kinds.  The desserts went pretty quickly!  My favorite of the bunch was this amazing peanut butter and jelly concoction.  Mmmm...

I rounded out dinner with a rich and foamy decaf cappuccino and then went home, desperate to put on some sweatpants and relax after a wickedly fun night of eating!

It's A Twice Baked Potato Kind Of Day

Ever just have one of those days that just leaves you frustrated?  You know, the type of day that makes you want to throw up your arms and exclaim, "Alright! Enough is enough!".  Well that seemed to be my day today.  Bouncing around today in what was a busy day but one that dragged on at the same time.  Then, to top it off, my Blackberry died.  Just like that, in mid-email no less.  I guess it had decided that it had enough and was checking out.  Double ugh.

But then I came home.  I stepped out of the blustery October day and into the warm comforts of my apartment.  I took off my jacket, changed into some relaxing clothes and poured myself a glass of wine.  I then went to my favorite place in the whole world to unwind in: my Small Boston Kitchen.  Rummaging through my cabinets and searching through my refrigerator, I decided that tonight called for the comfort and compassion that only one meal can provide: twice baked potatoes.  

Twice baked potatoes are a brilliant invention really.  They're kind of like hyped-up potato skins but only about a thousand times better.  And to think all it is is just mashed potatoes (which, let's be honest, are flat out amazing) stuffed into little crispy little edible cups made from the skins of the potato.  And then they get baked in the oven until the outside skins get a little crunchy and the center gives way to soft and creamy mashed potato fantasticness.  Simply put, they are the perfect thing to have on a not-so picture perfect day, don't you think?

Usually, people make twice-baked potatoes and have them as a side dish.  Uh, uh. Not this girl.  I say, make 'em the the whole meal.  And why not?  They are filling, and if you eat the skins, they can be very nutritious as well.  Not to mention, potatoes are in season right now so they are particularly fresh.  For these 'taters I used two different kinds of cheeses (Fromage Blanc, which is like French "Greek" yogurt, and a sharp cheddar).  I also sprinkled in little bits of rosemary as well because it's rustic flavors pair so well with potatoes.  For the finishing touch, bacon crumbles (all natural, preservative free bacon in case those of you following me on my unprocessed food journey are wondering!) and fresh snipped chives.  To me, this meal was the dinner was the food equivalent of a comforting hug and perfect for a tough day.


Twice Baked Potatoes

- 1 large russet potato
- About 2 tbs Formage Blanc (or sour cream or Greek yogurt)
- About 1/2 tsp dried rosemary
- A couple generous splashes of half and half
- A giant handful of sharp cheddar cheese (divided)
- 1 piece of bacon, cooked and finely crumbled
- Fresh snipped chives
- Salt and pepper to taste


Start by poking holes in the potato with a sharp knife and stick in the oven at 400.  Keep an eye on the potato an flip it every 20 minutes or so to allow for even cooking.  The potato is done when a knife can smoothly be inserted into the center with no resistance. Let the potato cool a bit and the cut it in half lengthwise.  Carefully scoop out the insides leaving just the skins.  Placing the insides of the potato into a bowl, add the fromage blanc, the half and half, the dried rosemary and 1/2 of the cheese.  Mash well to combine and then scoop the potato/cheese mixture into the potato skins.  Bake at about 400 until the tops just start to brown a little.  Add the bacon and let that bake for another 5 minutes or so.  Top with chives just before serving.  

Summer BBQ'n Fun @ Tremont 647

Doesn't BBQ go hand in hand with summer?  Ice cold beers, great music, loud laughter hanging thickly in humid air and grills ablaze with delicious smelling food.  Oh summer, you rock and last night was the epitome of a great summer evening.  I had the pleasure of joining my friends Fiona and John at Tremont 647 for the 7th Annual Grilling Social featuring fantastic local chefs grilling up some seriously good eats.  The theme this year was "street food from around the world" and the menu did not disappoint.  I'll admit, I even found my self a little star struck; meeting and talking with such well known chefs as Andy Husbands (of Tremont 647 and Sister Sorel), Mark Orfaly (of Pigalle), Brian Poe (Rattlesnake) and Chris Coombs (of dbar).

Like most of the events that I attend, I had no idea what to expect.  The small Tremont 647 and Sister Sorel (which are sort of joining locations) were transformed into a back yard BBQ.  Only it was in the front of the restaurant, under two small blue tents that housed two lengthy grills and billowy smoke.  While making our way to each tent to sample the fare, servers passed around little plates of yummy little sliders and pulled chicken tortillas.  Ice cold Harpoon beer was flowing freely.  (All three of them are not mine, by the way.)

In the first tent, we sampled burgers with what appeared to be a black bean spread, a raddicio slaw and a piece of grilled shrimp.  I don't care for shrimp so I skipped this sample but those around me said that it was delicious.

As I worked my way from the first to the second tent, I got to see and catch up with some of food blogger friends; Pam and Rachel.  At the second tent, there was a Russian pork and onion kebab that was served with a sweet plum sauce.  In addition to that, there was a wedge of toasted whole wheat pita bread topped with tzatziki, a hearty slice of lamb and a salsa of crunchy cucumbers, tomatoes, red onions and mint.  This by far was my favorite.  The flavors just all came together perfectly and that mint!  It was just so refreshing.  (Special note about the below picture: I'd love to tell that I had enough hand-eye coordination to pull off a shot of me grabbing for a lamb pita.  I'd also love to tell you that I thought to stage an action shot.  In reality, my friend John reached in for a second helping just as I was snapping the picture.  Look at that folks! A real-live, un-staged action shot!  You just don't see that everyday, now do you?)

For dessert, these yummy little brownie-like 'smores were being passed around.  They were great with a crispy graham cracker crust, rich chocolate and a fired up marshmallow on top.  It was a little sweet for my taste but that didn't stop me from eating the better part of one of them.

 After all the eating, I left with a fully belly, a huge smile on my face and the appreciation my city and it's talented chefs along with all the happiness that a summer evening can bring.

Not Your Average Turkey Burger

Turkey burgers always seem like a good idea.  You get to enjoy all of the pleasure of having a burger, but at a fraction of the caloric intake of a regular burger.  The flaw in this plan?  Turkey burgers are usually pretty lackluster, dried out and flavorless (due to less fat in the meat).  Not this turkey burger creation, no sir!  This is a flavor-packed version that can't even compare with the turkey burgers of yore.  Instead, these are light and you could even describe them as being refreshing.

So why are these so great and what makes them so different?  The secret is the addition of Greek yogurt and a mass amount of cilantro, mint and basil.  When you mix these ingredients into the meat and then hand pack the patties, something wonderful happens.  The extra moisture from the yogurt stays locked inside, yielding a highly flavorful meal.  Then the freshness from the herbs hit you with a punch of summery flavor, this is a great change-up for when you are craving a burger but want something a little lighter.

To compliment the burger and dress it up a little bit, I created a lemon, cumin and basil sauce with some of the leftover yogurt.  This was a refreshing little flavor booster and a great compliment to the meal.  I paired the burger with a light summery salad of mache lettuce, blueberries, and watermelon pieces topped off with some salty feta cheese and a light lemon dressing.  There was so much flavor going on with each bite, this was an exciting meal for the taste buds and a delicious one to enjoy on a nice summer evening.

Do You Fondue?

Confession time, up until last night, I had never been to the Melting Pot (http://www.meltingpot.com/).  It's totally the type of place that has my name written all over it and for whatever reason, I just haven't made it there.  Overflowing pots of melted cheese served alongside a bunch of different things to dip, creating endless combination of melty cheesy fun?!  Sign me up please and I'll be there with my Thanksgiving Day pants on, Fondue fork in hand.

I had gotten the invite to attend a Blogger event at the Melting Pot and let me tell you, I did NOT turn it down (and I did not wear my Thanksgiving pants.  I wanted to, don't get me wrong, but for fashion's sake, I just couldn't do it.)  To be honest, I could feel myself geeking out before I even entered the private party room.  I just knew good things were going to happen.  The restaurant is fashioned in colors of crimson and it has a sort of homey but trendy little edge to it.  The tables have have built in burners that keep glorious little pots of cheesy (and chocolaty) yumminess.  When I walked in, I made a swift beeline to the nearest fork and started dipping away.

I had a hard time selecting a favorite amongst the cheeses and I think I liked them all, but for different reasons.  Some of them had more of a twinge of wine to them and others you could taste more of that straight-up cheese flavor.  If I absolutely had to choose, the Cheddar or Swiss one would win.  Or maybe the Fiesta one?  It had a fun little flavor to it.  As far as the chocolate goes, I had a clear cut winner: the Turtle Fondue.  It was dangerously delicious.  While I was busy dipping chunks of bread into cheese, I washed it all down with some White Sangria.  It was refreshing, but a little too sweet for my liking.

My favorite part of the whole night (if you can believe that there could be anything better than melted cheese) was the fact that I got to hang out with some fellow food bloggers.  Some of which I already know and was excited to see again (Fiona, Pam, Alicia, Tina) and some that hadn't met in person but was super excited to (Jen, Michelle, Michelle, Meagan, Melissa).  The whole evening was part reunion, part introduction, and ALL eating.

I had an absolute blast last night and had so much fun talking about food (and eating it!) with some fellow foodies.  I thoroughly enjoyed my first melting pot experience.  I just love the interactive experience of it and all the combinations.  YUM, Melting Pot, YUM.

I Want To Be A Regular

I am really glad that I don't live close to Sound Bites in Somerville because I'm pretty sure I would become a regular.  Sort of like Norm on Cheers but instead of having a bar stool and a beer, they would have a booth and an omelet waiting for me.  Everyone would know my name and they'd always be glad I came.  I'd get hi-fives as I walk in and slide into my booth.  Maybe there'd be a theme song even and I'd exchange a nod and smile with the waiter as I ask him how his Mom's doing.

Okay, clearly, I'm getting carried away in my little breakfast fantasy world but that's how much I liked it.  I immediately felt at home and totally in love with this place.  It's bright and quirky and so the type of place that I'd call my second home.  Only it's across the river into Somerville and that's a little too far for me to travel to in order to become a regular.  I'm also pretty sure that if I ate a daily breakfast like the I ordered here, I would be well on my way to plus size clothing.  So on second thought, maybe it's better that this place isn't too close.

I keep referring to Sound Bites as homey because it has that sort of quality to it.  You help yourself to your morning beverage of choice.  You want coffee?  You get up and grab a mug from the shelf and pour your own, making you feel like you should be barefoot and in your bathrobe, yawning and wiping the sleep out of your eyes.  The menu is great too, so much to chose from!  I'm totally an omelet girl and I opted to make my own and consisting of mushrooms, sausage and America cheese (American gets my vote for best cheese to pair with eggs, in case you were wonddering).  My breakfast came with toast (white or wheat) and hash browns.  Now I'd like to pause for a moment to talk about the hash browns.  These aren't your typical diner breakfast potatoes, no, no, no!  Instead, it's sort of like mashed potatoes shaped into a square and then fried on each side so its nice and crispy.  It was a quirky little take on your run of the mill hash brown and I totally dug it.  They were peppery and salty and crunchy, what a great way to shake up breakfast a little.

If omelets aren't your morning meal of choice, they also offer several pancake/French toast/egg selections as well.  You'd be hard pressed not to find something on the menu that makes you immediately start to salivate, it was just that good.