Free recipe "Mini Meatloaves" --- perfect for the lunch box!

Good Morning! HAPPY FRIDAY! Have your kids gone back to school? How have you felt? Happy? Sad? I hope the transition to ‘back to school’ has gone smoothly for you all! Mt big girls went back this week and I am a Mum that always misses them when they go back….they were super excited about going back though as they always miss their friends which is sweet!

I wanted to share with you this recipe I made last week for something “different” (other than sandwiches for school which my big girls are not fans of) …. They have loved these wrapped in foil (and eaten as a mini meatloaf) with salad sticks on the side or sliced up on wraps with salad….hubby nicked one when they first came out of the oven and wasn’t impressed they weren’t for him for dinner….that was the perfect sign that they were yummy!

mini meatloaves

500g beef mince

2 carrots – grated

1 zucchini -grated

1 brown onion – finely diced

2 medium mushrooms – finely diced

1 cup cooked brown rice (optional)

2 tblspns tomato sauce

1 tblspn dried parsley flakes

good pinch herbamare (or salt)

oil – to brush into tray

tomato sauce – extra

Preheat oven to 180c and lightly grease 2 muffins trays with oil.

Place all the ingredients (except oil and extra tomato sauce) into a large bowl and mix thoroughly (I used my hands to make sure it was well combined).

Make balls out of the mixture and flatten slightly, place them into the muffin tray (mine were approximately the size of a lime)

Use a pastry brush to brush the tops of the meatloaves with the extra tomato sauce.

Cook in preheated oven for 20 minutes turn, brush with a little more tomato sauce and cook for a further 10 minutes.

(check that they are cooked thoroughly as oven temperatures vary)

mini meatloaves on wraps with carrot and cucumber

A few other photos to share of what has been going in my girls school lunch boxes:

Cherry and Coconut Muffins from COTC FOR KIDS

Plain 1 cake 9 ways with additive free icing, colour and 100s and 1000s – recipe in CUT OUT THE CRAP FOR KIDS – colour and 100s and 1000s available on my website

My new favourite thing! Little squeeze ‘ems (refillable pouches) perfect for filling with fruit pulp, yoghurt etc! Perfect for school!

With all this talk about ‘back to school lunches’ I wanted to share also what my hubby has….he takes a packed lunch everyday…it not only saves money but its also much healthier for him too….

Hubby generally has “leftovers” on wraps….this day he had leftover basil pesto risotto and grated carrot!

a small container of varied snacks….almonds, cashews, pistachios, pecans, sunflower seeds and cacao nibs

The main thing for me with lunches (at home, work and school) is to vary it up. DON’T limit what your kids have for lunch on YOUR likes and dislikes and why not try to make a little extra at night time so there is leftovers for lunch the next day…..

I hope you enjoy this recipe and ideas….have a FANTASTIC weekend!!!!

Take Care of You,

Collette x

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Free recipe "Mini Meatloaves" --- perfect for the lunch box!