Thursday, November 12, 2026

Meatloaf and Mash Potato Casserole #recipe #giveaway @vmburns

 VMBURNS: Recently, I wanted comfort food. One of my favorites is Shepherd's Pie. So, I took the ground beef out of the freezer to defrost and went about my day. When it was time to cook, I realized that while I had the potatoes, I didn't have peas and carrots for meat filling. Time to switch tactics. I scrolled through my recipes and decided to make a meatloaf. I almost always eat mashed potatoes with my meatloaf, so that was fine. But, as I was scrolling through recipes I ran across a meatloaf recipe with mashed potatoes and topped with cheese that was combined like Shepherd's Pie. PERFECT! 




MEATLOAF CASSEROLE




    INGREDIENTS


    • 1 lb ground beef
    • ½ cup plain breadcrumbs
    • 1 egg
    • ¼ cup ketchup
    • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
    • 1 teaspoon onion powder
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • ½ teaspoon black pepper
    • 3 cups mashed potatoes 
    • ¼ cup sour cream
    • 4 tablespoon butter
    • Salt & pepper, to taste
    • 1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese

      INSTRUCTIONS


      1. Preheat the oven to 375 and grease a casserole dish.
      2. Combine the ground beef, bread crumbs, egg, ketchup, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper in a large bowl and mix with your hands. 
      3. Press the meat into the bottom of the casserole dish, and bake uncovered for approximately 20 minutes.


      4. Peel and quarter the potatoes, and boil until fork tender. Drain and return the potatoes to the pot. Reduce the heat and mash until smooth. 

      5. Turn off the heat and add butter, sour cream, salt and pepper. 


      6. Remove the meatloaf and spread the mashed potatoes on top of the meat layer. Sprinkle the cheese on top of the casserole and bake until the cheese is melted and bubbly, approximately 10 minutes. 

         


        READERS: My publisher gave me a code for a free audio copy of Murder at First Slice. So, if you have a Spotify account, then you can listen for free. If you don't have a Spotify account, no problem. I still want to hear your answer. Just type NO Spotify with your comment. What's your favorite comfort food? Let me know in the comments below. 



      MURDER AT FIRST SLICE 



      As Maddy’s wedding day approaches, friends and family descend on the little town of New Bison, Michigan, to celebrate—so much so that Maddy wonders if there might be another happily-ever-after in store for her widowed father and innkeeper Mrs. Law. Unfortunately, she also has to deal with an unhappy couple: feuding cousins Hannah and Dorothy, who haven’t spoken in decades. Maddy can only hope the spectacular wedding cake crafted by her head baker doesn’t wind up as ammunition in a food fight.

      But she doesn’t have to wait long for a wedding disaster to strike. When the imperious Dorothy crashes the rehearsal dinner—with several uninvited guests in tow—and starts battering everyone with constant complaints, the drama reaches reality-show levels. And the next day, Dorothy is dead . . . with Hannah standing over the body, bloody rolling pin in hand.

      Nobody in town believes Miss Hannah could commit murder. But a detective newly

      Wednesday, November 11, 2026

      Roasted Broccoli with Miso Butter #ThanksgivingRecipe by @LeslieKarst

          

      This is another recipe that caught my eye in the New York Times food section some weeks back, and I’m thinking it would make for a terrific (and easy) side to your Thanksgiving bird. It can be served either hot out of the oven or at room temperature, which makes it a perfect dish for your holiday dinner.



      I love how the addition of just a little bit of miso to a dish ramps up its umami factor by an amazing level. Add to that the extra flavor that roasting brings to broccoli and you get a side dish that’s absolutely bursting with deliciousness!


      Roasted Broccoli with Miso Butter

      (serves 4)


      Ingredients


      1 large head broccoli (at least 1 lb.), cut into bite-size pieces

      2 tablespoons olive oil

      1 tablespoon butter at room temperature

      2 teaspoons miso (either white or red will work fine)

      1 tablespoon lime juice (fresh or bottled)

      salt to taste

       




      Directions


      Heat oven to 424 degrees F.


      Place the broccoli in a large roasting pan, drizzle with the oil, and then spread it out in a single layer. 

       



      Roast until browned and easily pierced with a fork—about 15 minutes.

       



      While the broccoli is roasting, mash together the butter and miso. (It doesn’t have to be uniformly mixed.)

       




      When the broccoli is cooked to your liking, spoon the butter-miso mixture over it and add the lime juice. 

       




      Stir to that all the pieces are covered with the butter and juice. Taste, and add salt as needed. (The miso is very salty, so you likely won’t need to use much.) 

       

      Enjoy!

       

      🌱  🍋 🌿

       

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      Out now in paperback!

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      2026 Lefty and Agatha Award Finalist

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      "Immerse yourself in Hawaiian lore and savor the portrayal of the stunning landscapes
      while enjoying the entertaining mystery."

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      Orchid Isle Mystery  #1

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      “Karst’s first Orchid Isle novel is part murder mystery, part vividly evocative, colorful sketch of Hawaii and its history, geography, tradition, culture, food, language, and people. Armchair travelers and mystery aficionados alike will find it entertaining.”

      Booklist

       


      This first book in my brand-new Orchid Isle mystery series features retired caterer Valerie Corbin and her wife Kristen who, on a trip to the Big Island of Hawai‘i, swap surfing lessons for sleuthing sessions when a hike to an active lava flow turns deadly. 

       

      Praise for MOLTEN DEATH:


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      2024 Lefty Award Finalist

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      “[Sally is] sassy, irresistible company... Culinary cozy fans will be in heaven.”

       --Publishers Weekly

       

      “An enjoyable read for mystery mavens and foodies alike.”

      --Kirkus Reviews




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      Tuesday, November 10, 2026

      SWEET POTATO CASSEROLE WITH PECAN TOPPING: My Lighter Version of the #Thanksgiving Classic by Cleo Coyle




      From Cleo Coyle: According to a recent survey, 80% of Americans enjoy cooking the side dishes for Thanksgiving even more than the turkey. Marc and I always enjoy roasting our Thanksgiving turkey (and eating its leftovers), but I have to admit the annual feast wouldn't be complete without the stuffing and other sides. Do you feel the same? And do you have a favorite Thanksgiving side?

      One of our favorites is this classic sweet potato casserole with a crunchy-sweet pecan topping. My version uses less butter and sugar than many traditional recipes but loses none of the flavor or richness. 

      You can make my casserole with brown sugar alone or with maple syrup. With dairy or non-dairy. Or even with a brown sugar substitute. Finally, I have a tip for making the process a snap on Thanksgiving day...

      So, let's get started!



      Cleo Coyle writes two
       bestselling mystery
       series with her husband.
      To learn more, click here.


      ☕ A Recipe Note from Cleo

      The origin of this recipe goes back a long way. I remember seeing a version published in a 40-year-old cookbook celebrating heritage recipes from Georgia, but that recipe likely had its roots in the "sweet potato pudding" published in the first American cookbook, circa 1796. 

      For my lighter, easier version of this classic, I started with the more traditional version here, cut an entire stick of butter, some of the sugar, and a small amount of flour. The result was delicious! I did not miss the extra fat and calories and neither did my husband, who is never coy about expressing his opinion on good eats.

      I created some options in the ingredients, as well. You can make this casserole with brown sugar alone or with maple syrup. If you're cutting back on sugar, you can even use a brown sugar substitute. And you can  go dairy or non-dairy.

      Finally, here's my tip for making the process a snap on Thanksgiving day. F
      orget the traditional method of peeling, dicing, boiling, and mashing, which leaches nutrition from those nourishing sweet potatoes. And don't even think about using canned yams, which can't compare to sweet potatoes made from scratch. Instead, simply bake your sweet potatoes alongside your turkey. 

      My baking method produces sweet potatoes that are just as moist as the boiled version, but with less fuss and cleanup. And (the best reason to do this...) baking the potatoes will help them retain more nutrition and flavor. 

      Now let's start (some early Thanksgiving) cooking!

      ~ Cleo 




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      To download a PDF of this 
      recipe that you can print, 
      save, or share, click here.








      Cleo Coyle's (Lighter)
      Sweet Potato Casserole with
      Brown Sugar and Pecans 


      Ingredients:

      For the casserole:

      3-4 medium to large sweet potatoes (You will use these to
              make 3-1/2 cups cooked and mashed sweet potatoes)
      1/4 cup light brown sugar*
      1/4 cup pure maple syrup*
      2 eggs, lightly beaten
      1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
      1/4 teaspoon table salt
      1/4 cup milk (low-fat cow's milk or dairy-free almond)
      4 tablespoons butter melted (or dairy-free margarine, melted)

      *To make this recipe without maple syrup, increase the brown sugar to 1/2 cup and reduce the amount of cooked, mashed sweet potatoes by 1/4 cup. If you're cutting back on sugar, you can use a brown sugar substitute.

      For the topping:

      4 Tablespoons butter, melted (or dairy-free margarine, melted)
      1/4 cup flour
      1/2 cup light brown sugar (or brown sugar substitute)
      Generous pinch of table salt or finely ground sea salt
      1 cup pecans, roughly chopped

      Step 1 – Easy-bake sweet potatoes (you can either bake these with your turkey or the night before your Thanksgiving meal): Wash the sweet potatoes and leave skins wet. Tap your inner serial killer and stab the taters a few times with a knife to prevent them from exploding in the oven.




      Wrap the sweet potatoes tightly in aluminum foil and bake them in a well-preheated 350 degree F. oven for 90 minutes. Remove them from the oven, but do not unwrap! Allow them to cool in their foil cocoons for 30 minutes. This will keep them nice and moist. Now open and slice each potato in half.



      As shown above, scoop out the still-warm flesh, 
      which is now very close to pre-mashed for you.




      A fork will make quick work of the mashing. 
      See the photos above and below.
      You want a nice, even consistency. 





      Step 2 – Assemble the casserole: Measure out 3-1/2 cups of the cooked and mashed sweet potatoes and combine them with the rest of the casserole ingredients. Stir well. Pour into a well-buttered casserole dish (1-1/2 to 2 quarts in size). The dish you see below is 1-1/2 quarts.




      Step 3 – Make the casserole topping: Melt the butter (or margarine) in a small saucepan. Remove the pan from heat, add the topping ingredients to the pan, stir well. The mixture should be damp and crumbly. Distribute it evenly over the casserole top. 





      Bake at 350° F. for about 40 minutes. Casserole will be bubbling when finished and some liquid will appear to be pooling in the topping. Don’t worry. As the dish cools, the liquid will settle back into the casserole and the top will become crusty, crunchy, and delicious. 







      Thanks for stopping by today. 

      May you...




      Eat, Drink, and Read with  joy!

      ~ Cleo Coyle 

      New York Times bestselling author 
      of The Coffeehouse Mysteries and 
      Haunted Bookshop Mysteries 


      Cleo (Alice) with her husband, Marc 


      Visit Cleo's online coffeehouse here. 
      And follow her at these links... 






      "An Excellent Read"


      Our brand-new 
      Coffeehouse Mystery: 

      Eat, Drink, and Get Buried 



      Buy now at: 

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      "EXCEPTIONALLY GOOD...FAST-PACED AND FUN...The action starts early [and] Clare is on top of her game." —Fresh Fiction 

      "WOW, JUST WOW! Eat, Drink, and Get Buried knocked my socks off. It kept me glued to my seat and up late. I truly couldn't put it down. 10 Stars" —Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book
       
      "AN EXCELLENT READ and one of the best books in this enduring and endearing series..." —Dru Ann Love, Raven Award-winning reviewer




      Eat, Drink, and Get Buried  
      is also
      a culinary mystery 
      with
      a knockout menu of 
      party-ready recipes... 


      👇



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      Guide to the Recipes featured in 
      Eat, Drink, and Get Buried. 





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      For a free PDF of this recipe,
      click here or on the image below.