Pellet Pooper Meatloaf for the win

Sundays in my house are usually spent doing groceries and meal prepping for the week’s lunches.   Yesterday hubs and I decided to get some meat smoking on the grill and so I tried a meatloaf recipe that I’ve been eyeing for a while.   I know the boss is a tried and true Weber guy…but we like the “set it and forget it” ease of our Traeger grill which Joey has lovingly referred to as our “pellet pooper”!     You can adapt this any way you like, but I would not leave out the sausage…it gives it an amazing flavor!

Recipe:

1 lbs beef, 1 lbs veal, ½ lb uncased Italian sausage

2 rolls broken up and soaked in ½ c buttermilk

½ c diced onion & ½ c bell pepper & 1 clove diced garlic (microwaved 2-3 minutes to soften)

2 tbsp each Worcestershire, mustard, siracha

2 eggs

1 cup favorite bbq sauce (I use Stubby’s for it’s lower sugar content)

1 lb bacon (dice up and fry 2 slices for inside the meatloaf and use the rest for the outside)

Mix everything but the BBQ sauce up in a bowl.   Make a weave out of the remaining bacon on a piece of parchment.  Put the loaf on the bacon and baste with bbq sauce.   Wrap bacon around loaf and cook on rack with pan underneath so grease can escape.   Smoked at 225 for 45 minutes, then upped the temp to 325 until internal temp was 140.   Basted with BBQ sauce and cooked under internal temp was 160.

A sure sign of Spring

While I complain about all the bird poop on my porch from all the little busy birds this time of year, I love watching the little buggers!   This week I’ve been creeping on my neighbor’s porch waiting for these little Robins eggs to hatch (well, I think they are robin’s eggs lol!)   This morning I went over and 4 of them had hatched into 4 fuzzy little balls!  So cute!

Portland Maine adventures

Spent the weekend at a Photo Workshop with the guys at New England Photo Workshops doing some Black and White photography in Portland, ME.   Got to spend some quality time with my youngest chick Melodey while she gets her feet wet in photography and have myself some one on one time with my camera.   Portland is a great area and even though Saturday was a tough day to be outside, let alone with your camera gear… bad weather does make for some good black and white photos!  If you are new to your camera or just want to visit some new locations with other photography fanatics, Bob Ring and Don Toothaker at New England Photo Workshops are a couple of great guys who are really enthusiastic and passionate about what they do and are great about sharing their vast knowledge.  Check out their website  for their workshop schedule and follow them on facebook!

The best jelly donut ever…just take Melodey’s word for it

Stopped at The Cookie Jar in Cape Elizabeth ME to warm up and sample some of their amazing homemade donuts!   Nom…nom…nom!​

Off the island…Portland ME

Spending a few days in Portland ME this weekend and I was hoping for a view like this from my last visit to Portland Head lighthouse, but the rain has been a challenge this morning.  Maybe tomorrow will be a better day!  

Happy Easter ~ Buona Pasqua!

Happy Easter to all who are celebrating today!   I have taken on a little “post lent” personal challenge to notice 5 beautiful things in my environment every day just to stay positive and appreciate what surrounds me.  One of this morning’s “observations” is a spot I drive by every day and in the spring these beautiful blue wildflowers are here for just a short visit.   I believe they are called “glory of the snow” because they are the first flower to bloom after the winter.   Anyone recognize the area?   Hope you all enjoy this amazingly gorgeous day and find one or two things to appreciate in your own little world!

New hobby anyone?

OK kids…anyone up for a new hobby?   If I didn’t have such a love-hate relationship with flying insects (they love me, I hate them) I would be all over this.   If this is up your alley, the folks at Harvest Lane Honey whose products are for sale at the Building Center have some great How-To videos to check out.   Happy Honey Making! 

Having a catch

This lab was having the best time tossing the ball around in the water all by himself and sunset last night at Annisquam.   I think I want to be a Lab in my next life….they are so energetic and full of life 😀   BLM_0884-Edit

Pink Moon Rising…

The Pink Moon gave a brief appearance last night through the haze of the clouds.  The pink moon is named after pink flowers which bloom in early spring and represent new beginnings!

View from Stone bridge in Goose Cove

Love my end of the island around Goose Cove.   Looking forward to this spot filling in with houseboats and paddling my kayak around with the Egrets soon!