Recipe: Meatloaf Cupcakes (for April Fool's Day)

I looked high and low for good April Fool's Day lunch recipes that weren't centered around cookies, candy, rice crispy treats, and cake.

I just want something clever to send to school for a decently healthy lunch.

I didn't come up with much (this year!), but I did decide to make these - Meatloaf Cupcakes.  The recipe is altered slightly from Family Fun's recipe.  Here's what I did.


Meatloaf Cupcakes

For the meatloaf:
1 lb ground beef or turkey
1/2 c Italian seasoned bread crumbs
1 egg
3 Tbsp ketchup
1/2 c shredded Mexican cheese (or your favorite cheese)
3 Tbsp ground flax seed
1 Tbsp Teeny Tiny Spice Company Perfection Spice Rub

For "frosting"
Mashed potatoes
desired food coloring (I used instant mashed potatoes and added food coloring to the water and the milk directly)

Preheat oven to 375 F.

In a bowl, combine meatloaf ingredients.

Mix well.

Distribute meatloaf mixture into lined muffin tins (makes 12).  Bake for ~15 minutes until cooked through. 

See?  These needed to be drained...

Thusly drained.

If you have a lot of "juices" from your meat and cheese in your "cupcakes," you can remove the liners, drain on a paper towel, and then place in a new liner for "frosting."  You may not have this problem if you use turkey or very lean beef.

In new wrappings, all "frosted"

Place tinted mashed potatoes in a pastry bag.  Snip off tip and "frost" the "cupcakes," using a decorative pastry tip if desired.