This Tuesday is April Fools Day, yippeeeeeeeee!!!!   Last year, I made April Fools cupcakes with the same recipe.  This year I will be making a cake to trick my wonderful boys who just love to play tricks on me. Paybacks! We will be having a delicious cake for dinner.  SHHHHHH!  Don’t tell them what my delcious cakes contains….

ingredients for the Meat Loaf

2 pounds lean ground beef

3 large eggs

1 cup bread crumbs

2/3 cup sliced green onions

1/2 cup milk

1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley

3 large garlic cloves, minced

2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

1 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

For the Decoration

1 jar (12 ounces) roasted red peppers, drained and patted dry

3 1/2 cups hot mashed potatoes

8 cherry tomatoes, stems removed
Prep Time: 40 minutes
Baking Time: 20-25 minutes
Serves 8

Directions
Preparing the Meat Loaf
1. Preheat oven to 375F. In a large bowl, combine ground beef, eggs, bread crumbs, green onions, milk, parsley, garlic, Worcestershire sauce, salt and pepper just until blended.

2. Divide mixture between two 8-inch round cake pans, patting to cover pans evenly and make level.

3. Bake meat loaves until juices run clear when meat is pierced with a fork, or meat loaves register 170F on a meat thermometer, 20-25 minutes. Remove pans from the oven; cover loosely with foil and let stand for 10 minutes.

Decorating the Meat Loaf
1. Pour off juices from pans. Invert 1 meat loaf onto a flat serving plate. Using a small sharp knife, trim red peppers so that they lie flat. Cover top of meat loaf with a single layer of roasted red peppers.

2. Invert second meat loaf onto red pepper layer. Using a spatula, spread 2 1/2 cups mashed potatoes over top and sides of meat loaf. Spoon remaining potatoes into a pastry bag fitted with a large star tip. Pipe swirls around top edges of cake. Pipe stars around bottom of cake.

3. Place cherry tomatoes, stem-ends down, in a ring around top of meat loaf “cake” to resemble cherries. Cut meat loaf into wedges; serve immediately.

Per serving: 354 Cal.; 26g Protein; 13g Fat; 34g Carb.; 845mg Sodium; 117mg Chol.; 1g Fiber

Village Tip
Let the meat loaves stand for 10 to 15 minutes after baking to allow them to set; this will make them easier to remove from the pan.

Look what works for other bloggy sisters at Rocksinmydryer.