Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Got Leftover Meatloaf? Try My Mex-Italian Wrap by Cleo Coyle


Meatloaf has got to be one of the most popular dishes in America. I have no poll numbers or stats for you on that, but anecdotally it sure seems true. We've had five blog posts with different meatloaf recipes on this site alone. Click here to see them.



But here's the rub: What do you do with leftovers? I mean, like Krista who blogged yesterday about being sick of the same old chicken dishes, I am weary of the same old leftover meatloaf recipes. If you are too, then...

Behold, I give you something new (at least for me): My "Mex-Italian" take on the leftover meatloaf sandwich.







The Mexican influence comes with the flour tortilla, and the addition of habanera sauce (optional, of course).

The Italian contribution comes from the bell peppers—green, yellow, orange, red, or any combination—cooked in a little oil, low and slow to gently caramelize and sweeten.

(I grew up on fried pepper sandwiches and the flavor of sautéed pepper strips is sweet to me indeed.)









Okay, sure, in most Italian-American kitchens, sausage and peppers begins this way, but the addition of the fatty pork—not to mention huge slabs of Italian or semolina bread—is just too heavy for a working writer’s brunch. The substitution of the quintessentially American meatloaf cuts the calorie count drastically without sacrificing flavor.

Recipe (if you need one) for...


CLEO'S MEX-ITALIAN
MEATLOAF WRAP 


Add a bit of oil to a warm pan. When oil is hot, add sliced bell peppers, stir for 8 to 10 minutes or until peppers are thoroughly cooked, wilted, and caramelized (for best flavor do not undercook). Add slices of leftover meatloaf to the pan. Flip and turn, allowing to break up and warm through, soaking up the pepper juices and flavor. Place filling on a flour tortilla--"burrito" size for a larger wrap, "soft taco" size for a smaller one. Roll and slice in half on the diagonal.





 Oh, did I mention this thing is delicious? Because it is! :)

BTW: I’m always on the lookout for new ways to "waste not" when it comes to leftover meatloaf. Do you have a favorite? Do you sauce it? Throw it into a casserole? Share your recipe, and we’ll give it a try. In the meantime...





Eat with joy!
~ Cleo Coyle, author of
The Coffeehouse Mysteries



To get more of my recipes, win free coffee,
or find out more about my books, visit me
 at my *virtual* coffeehouse:

 
Click on the book covers above
to learn more about Cleo's culinary mysteries.

******************



A final, quick note for our mystery reading fans.
The latest Mystery Readers Journal with the theme Hobbies, Crafts, and Special Interests is now available.


The issue, edited by Mystery Fanfare's Janet Rudolph, includes many mystery authors who have guest posted for us over the past year. You can check out the contents by clicking here, which will also give you info on how to purchase a copy (hard or electronic) for yourself.


******************

12 comments:

  1. The fun thing about this recipe is that it's so completely different from the original entree! I could pretend the dish wasn't leftover from anything...and my family would totally buy it. Thanks for sharing this, Cleo. :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. What gorgeous colors. I walked by the $3.99 peppers in the store the other day, thinking it won't be long until we have loads of them in the garden again!

    I think Elizabeth is right. A lot of people would make the meatloaf, just to make to your delicious wrap, Cleo.

    ~ Krista

    ReplyDelete
  3. Cleo, absolutely gorgeous pictures! Wow. Everyone in my family loves my meatloaf. I'm sure they will love this. Spicy peppers and easy!

    BTW, just finished HOLIDAY GRIND Terrific job! It's nice to read a little merry-merry murder in February. Holiday mysteries are not just for the holidays. That goes for Krista's DIVA COOKS A GOOSE, too.

    Hugs to all,

    Avery

    ReplyDelete
  4. Love this idea. I agree with Elizabeth. Great way to fool the family. Love it!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Now this is what I like, my boys will think this is a great dish and not leftovers. Hubby is back out of town working and he heats meatloaf so while he is gone we eat the things he doesn't care for that we like ha. I had meatloaf planned for Wednesday so this will be great for Thursday. Thank you cleo. I like the fact the veggies won't detour the boys as they wolf it down.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Great idea and so multi-cultural! I'm adopting it (with credit to Cleo)

    ReplyDelete
  7. Reply to...

    @Elizabeth - That's a wonderful observation! The "day after" feeling of leftovers is indeed gone from this dish. I also like it's limited ingredient list. (Of course, the meatloaf already has that longer list of ingredients, so we already worked for it!)

    More replies to come...

    ~ Cleo Coffeehouse Mystery.com
    Cleo Coyle on Twitter

    ReplyDelete
  8. Reply to...

    @Krista – Garden peppers are the best! As I mentioned in the post, I grew up on fried pepper sandwiches, but not greasy fried peppers, you know? If it’s done right, just a little bit of oil and patience will caramelize those babies with the most beautiful flavor. I’m so glad you liked the post!

    More replies to come...

    ~ Cleo Coffeehouse Mystery.com
    Cleo Coyle on Twitter

    ReplyDelete
  9. Reply to...

    @Avery – Aw, thanks for the nice words on the photos – the peppers were a lot of fun to shoot with their strong, beautiful colors, and thanks especially for the kind words about Holiday Grind. You’re the best!

    @Julie – Fooling the family with leftovers – priceless. :)

    More replies to come...

    ~ Cleo Coffeehouse Mystery.com
    Cleo Coyle on Twitter

    ReplyDelete
  10. Reply to...

    @Babs – Oh, I’m so glad to hear you can use this! I hope your boys enjoy all the flavors and the pretty colors, too. (Lol on the hub’s issues with meatloaf. I think we all have dishes we can eat every day and those we’d rather not see again. Ever. Who knows? Maybe this wrap will make a convert of him. :)) Eat with joy!

    @MJ – TY for the nice words. NYC is a “multi-culty” Mecca so naming this wrap was a snap.

    ~ Cleo Coffeehouse Mystery.com
    Cleo Coyle on Twitter

    ReplyDelete
  11. Leftover meatloaf? I must honestly say that doesn't happen too often with a ravenous 15 year old boy in the house.... Generally, if there are leftovers, they wind up as sandwiches....
    Great idea with the wraps though. I will have to double the next meatloaf and hide one of them to have leftovers!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Reply to...

    @Lo-mo - Ha! Yes, yes, yes! I know exactly what you mean about feeding a teenage boy. Great idea to make 2 meatloaves or a bigger one because this sandwich is one of my favorites. For me, it's even better than a stuffed pepper because the strips of peppers are caramelized and sweetly delicious. Cheers and thanks so much for stopping by our Kitchen.

    ~ Cleo Coffeehouse Mystery.com
    Cleo Coyle on Twitter

    ReplyDelete