It’s been one of those rainy, lazy, sickly sort of days. Ethan may or may not have the flu. Everything else is irrelevant when he’s sick. We’ve been pushing the liquids. Lots of tea, water and ginger ale. Vernors, that is. Thomas had the priviledge of tasting Vernors Ginger Ale in North Carolina while visiting with some very gracious friends. He tasted the sweet, barrel aged ale and knew he had to buy some when he got home for us to try out. Apparently, it’s the oldest surviving brand of soda in the US. It was created in Detroit by a pharmacist in 1866. The thing is, we have to order it online and have it shipped to us. Ethan loves it so much, he asked Santa for Vernors for Christmas. Santa came through with two 12 packs. That should last a couple months. (I hope!)

Dinner time came and we decided on meatloaf. Everyone has their own way of making it. There are many variations around the world. This recipe has been devised over several years to become one of Ethan’s favorites….who would of thought?

It starts with the vegetables. I use whatever’s in the fridge. Tonight, it was carrot, onion, green pepper, mushrooms, and zucchini.

Then add ground turkey, bread crumbs, egg, salt and pepper.

I like to use panko bread crumbs but ran out. I just toasted up some sandwich bread and diced it small.

Now the thing that makes this meatloaf is the ketchup and sugar mixture on the top and sides.

Enjoy it with even more veggies and I’ll take those end slices…thank you very much!

Turkey and Vegetable Meatloaf

• 1/4 cup each, diced carrot, onion, mushroom, green pepper, and zucchini
• 1 lb. ground turkey
• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
• 1/4 tsp pepper
• 1/2 tsp salt

Combine with your hands and shape into a rectangle on a sheet pan.

Cover the top and sides with ketchup mixture (1/4 cup ketchup and 1 tsp. sugar)

Bake in a preheated 350F oven for 50-60 minutes.

I think the meatloaf helped because as I type, Ethan is bopping balloons and humming the New Super Mario Bros. theme songs. It’s the small victories in life that matter.

How do you make your meatloaf?