stuffed up

We're definitely in the middle of the winter blues.  For the past little while, our family has enjoyed giving each other the common cold.  And since I'm at the end of the chain, through teary eyes, runny noses and raw throats, I am particularly dreaming of warmer temperatures...and beaches.

It's been commonly joked that women can handle pain and illnesses much better than their male counterparts. Sometimes no matter how we feel, we suffer through it as we have to "keep the machine" moving.  Make sure everyone is fed, cleaned, happy.  It doesn't matter if you can't breathe...keep moving, keep working!

The other day, I stumbled upon a funny video of two male television hosts who, for an experiment, decided to find out if giving birth is as painful as women say it is.

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I don't have an answer to the debate of who really handles pain better, but I think the most important thing is to have support around you to help you get through it.  What I found most interesting about the video was, in lieu of having spouses, the two hosts had the nurses to help them work through the pain.  I think we all need that "pain coach"...the one that is there to help, support or just be there to pick up a few chores while you're resting.

And while I may be feeling a little stuffed up right now, with my own "pain coach" (or three), along with a little comfort food, it won't be as difficult to keep moving, keep working.  And I'll also keep dreaming of warmer temperatures...and the beach.

Goat Cheese Stuffed Meatloaf

(Serves 6)

Inspired by a sushi roll.  By rolling the ground meat around  layer of goat cheese like a jelly roll, the cheese is layered into the centre of the meatloaf.

Ingredients

• 1 lb. ground beef (500g)
• ½ cup breadcrumbs
• 1 egg
• ¼ cup chopped onion
• 1 tbsp. worchestershire sauce
• ½ tsp. sea salt
• 1 tbsp. Dijon mustard
• 1 pkg. (100g) goat cheese round, plain (I used herbed)
• 1 tbsp. butter, softened
• 2 tbsp. ketchup or tomato paste

Preparation

• Preheat oven to 350degrees.  Prepare a 9x5 loaf pan (I used my stoneware pan).
• Mix all the ingredients except for the last three above, and pat the meat mixture into a rectangle (about 10” square) on a piece of plastic wrap or aluminum foil.
• One the side, prepare goat cheese.  Put into a small bowl and mix with 1 tbsp of butter until a smooth paste. 
• Spread the coat cheese mixture across the top of the meat in a neat stripe. (about 3” from the top.
• Roll like a giant sushi roll .  Gently place in loaf pan.  Mix butter and ketchup or tomato paste together and spread a thin layer on the top of the loaf. 
• Bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour until done

Enjoy.