Gluten Free Glazed Moist Meatloaf

What do you like to do on a snowy day?  I like to make meatloaf!

The joy of being gluten free is knowing that you don’t have to miss out on anything you would have normally had when you were able to eat gluten.  If you are new to being gluten free, I know the task at hand seems daunting.   At first you will go through the wanting and wishing you could eat gluten again phase.  It will feel like every place you go, you will hyper-focus on those foods you cannot have any more.  Then as time goes on you won’t miss those foods much any more.  The ones that make you feel horrible, the ones that hurt your body, and the ones you know are just not good for you.  Then you get to the phase where you realize that there is NOTHING out there you can’t make or find that will replace the foods you thought you were missing.

As the snow is coming down here on the East Coast, I find myself wanting warm & hearty comfort foods.  You can add any kind of sides but the main entrée to your meal must be flavorful and moist.  No one likes a dry meatloaf, or one that tastes completely bland.

I don’t know about you, but I am feeding a family of 5, 4 of which are boys/men!  So food has to go far and as many know, without all the fillers (aka gluten), you can really pack away the food!  My kids and family are spoiled and they really enjoy food.  They like food that packs a good flavor but is also filling.

Going gluten free is a journey with a big steep learning curve.  Be patient with yourself. Things take time to learn, and take time to see the benefits.  Just think about it.  If you have been ingesting gluten your whole life and 10, 20, 30, 40+ years later you are finally diagnosed, your body is going to take time to heal.  It is amazing how something like Celiac disease, an autoimmune disease, when gone untreated can shut your whole body down.  Things that you thought were unrelated will start to repair and heal.   It takes time.  And you have to be diligent.  It isn’t easy, but it is one of the most rewarding things you can do for your health.

Remember my goal is that every single one of my recipes will not lack in flavor from a normal gluten packed meal.

Happy Eating!

 

GLUTEN FREE GLAZED MOIST MEATLOAF

INGREDIENTS

2  lbs of meat

(I like ground turkey and use a lot of it in most of my cooking!  Some will prefer beef.  It really doesn’t matter what combination you make your meatloaf as long as the total is 2 lbs.  You will have to at least add 1/2 lb of ground beef for a little fat and to add moisture.  My favorite combination is : 1 to just over 1 lb ground turkey, (sometimes I use a meatloaf mix with it that my grocery store has which is beef, pork and ground veal- all gluten free).  This is usually just over 1 lb.    Tonight I used the ground turkey, ground beef and ground pork.  All equally.

2 eggs

2/3 cup Gillian’s gluten free/dairy free bread crumbs  (I have used all different kinds of bread crumbs and so far this is one of my favorite.  Glutino brand works, but the flavor is just not quite the same).  Other brands work as well.  Just get regular old gluten free bread crumbs.

3/4 cup milk, soy unsweetened milk, or regular coconut milk

1 tsp salt

3 tbs onion powder

1 tbs garlic powder

2 tsp French’s Honey Dijon Mustard

4 shakes of Frank’s hot sauce

1/2 tsp of Worcestershire sauce – I use Lea & Perrins

GLAZE:

4 tbs gluten free apple cider vinegar

7 tbs light brown sugar (gluten free)

1 cup of ketchup (I use Heinz)

**Please make sure to check all your meats to ensure they are gluten free, your seasonings for any anti-caking agents that could contain gluten, and your brand of mustard, hot sauce, and/or Worcestershire sauce. **

DIRECTIONS:

1.  In a large bowl add your ground meats, eggs, gluten free bread crumbs, milk, salt, onion powder, garlic powder, honey Dijon mustard, Frank’s hot sauce and Worcestershire sauce and mix with your hands thoroughly until completely mixed.

2.  Lightly grease a bread loaf pan with cooking spray.  Preheat oven to 375.

3.  Put the meat mix into the loaf pan and pat down flat into a loaf.

4.  In a bowl mix together the apple cider vinegar, light brown sugar, and ketchup.  Heat in a small pan or microwave until heated.

5.  Add the ketchup glaze to the top of the meatloaf and nicely coat the top.

6.  Cook the meatloaf at 375 for 1 hour uncovered.

7.  After slicing your meatloaf and serving it on a plate, add a nice drizzle (or more) of the glaze and serve!

ENJOY!