Hedgehog Meat Loaves Recipes

THE BEST MEATLOAF

Steps:

• Arrange a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 450 degrees F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil.
• Whisk the eggs, milk, Worcestershire sauce and 2 teaspoons salt in a large bowl until completely combined. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion, garlic, thyme, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1 teaspoon pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are tender and lightly golden brown, 8 to 10 minutes.
• Add 3 tablespoons of the ketchup and cook until most of the moisture has evaporated and the mixture is thick and brick red colored, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove the skillet from the heat and let the onions cool slightly. Then add them to the beaten eggs and mix to combine.
• Add the beef to the egg and onion mixture. Break up the meat with a fork or wooden spoon, and then mix to thoroughly combine; you don't want to see any lumps of raw beef. Add the panko and mix to combine. Stir the meat vigorously with a wooden spoon for about 7 seconds; it will become more homogenous and tackier.
• Transfer the meat to the prepared baking sheet and shape into a 9-by-5-inch loaf. Smooth the top and evenly spread the remaining ketchup over top. Bake for 5 minutes, and then reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees. Continue to bake until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center of the loaf registers 150 degrees F, 30 to 35 minutes. Allow the meatloaf to rest for 20 minutes before slicing.

HEDGEHOG ROLLS

Steps:

• Make the bread mixture with the butter following pack instructions. It's easiest to use a stand mixer but not difficult to do by hand. Leave the dough to rest for 5 mins, then knead for 5 mins.
• Cut the dough into six pieces. Dust the surface with a little flour and shape each piece into a ball by rolling it between your hand. Now make it hedgehog-shaped by pulling one side out a little and squeezing it gently into a snout. Be quite firm or it will bounce back.
• Put the hedgehogs on a baking sheet, cover with a damp tea towel and leave to rise for 1 hr.
• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Using kitchen scissors (supervise younger children), carefully snip into the dough to make the spikes on the backs of the hedgehogs. Press raisins in for the eyes and push a flaked almond into the end of each snout.
• Bake for 15 mins or until the rolls are risen and golden. Will keep for two days in an airtight container.

HEDGEHOG MEAT LOAVES

Steps:

• Mix the ground beef or turkey, rice and onion together-- salt and pepper as you wish.
• Form into 8 "hedgehog" shapes, and line the hedgehogs up in a casserole dish.
• Mix the soup, water and Worcestershire sauce together and pour it over the hedgehogs.
• Cover the casserole dish with foil.
• Bake at 350°F for 1 hour and 15 minutes, occasionally spooning sauce over the hedgehogs.
• Eat.

ROAST MEAT LOAF OR "HEDGEHOG"

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
• Saute the mushrooms in butter until the juices run, then season with salt and pepper and nutmeg. Reserve.
• Remove the sinews from the livers and slice. In a large bowl combine all the ground meats, sausage, livers, onion, garlic, and juniper berries. Add the allspice and thyme leaves. Season with salt and pepper. Beat the eggs and add to the mixture together with the mushrooms. Mix with your hands thoroughly.
• Oil a roasting pan and place all the mixture in it, molding it into an oval shape. Adorn with the bacon slices, criss-crossed, tucking the ends under the meat. Strew some bay leaves and branches of rosemary on the top and sides. Cook in the preheated oven for 15 minutes, then lower the heat to 350 degrees and cook for 1 1/2 hours.
• When cooked, there will be lots of lovely juices in the bottom of the pan. Save them to flavor soup, stocks, or eggs. Remove the loaf and place on a serving dish. Serve hot or cold with a tomato sauce.
• For children, you might like to turn it into a hedgehog by pressing almonds into the meat to create prickles and placing 3 olives to form eyes and a nose. This should be done before the meat goes into the oven.

HEDGEHOG MEATBALLS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the beef, rice and egg beat. Mix well with hands, making mixture into medium sized meatballs. Set aside.
• Pour soup into a large saucepan, and dilute with 1 can of water. Heat to simmering over medium heat.
• Lower heat to low, drop meatballs into soup and simmer for 20 to 30 minutes.

DAD'S FAVORITE BARBECUE MEAT LOAVES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425°. In a large bowl, combine egg, stuffing mix, milk, cheese and 1 tablespoon barbecue sauce. Add beef; mix lightly but thoroughly. Shape into four 4x2-in. loaves in a foil-lined 15x10x1-in. baking pan., Bake until a thermometer reads 160°, 15-20 minutes. Spread with remaining barbecue sauce before serving. Freeze option: Individually wrap cooled meat loaves in plastic and foil, then freeze. To use, partially thaw meat loaves in refrigerator overnight. Unwrap loaves; reheat in a greased 15x10x1-in. baking pan in a preheated 350° oven until loaves are heated through and a thermometer inserted in center reads 165°. Top each with 1 tablespoon barbecue sauce before serving.

LITTLE MEAT LOAVES

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the first 11 ingredients. Crumble beef over mixture and mix well. Shape into eight loaves. , Place on a rack coated with cooking spray in a shallow baking pan. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 30 minutes. Spoon ketchup over the loaves. Bake 15 minutes longer or until a thermometer reads 160° and meat is no longer pink.

PERSONAL MEAT LOAVES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and lightly grease a cookie sheet.
• Heat the olive oil in a medium saute pan. Add the onions, thyme, salt, and pepper and cook over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, for 8 to 10 minutes, until the onions are translucent but not brown. Off the heat, add the Worcestershire sauce, chicken stock, and crushed tomatoes. Allow to cool slightly.
• In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, onion mixture, bread crumbs, and eggs, and mix lightly with a fork. Don't mash or the meatloaf will be dense. Divide the mixture into 6 -9 portions (depending on size) and shape each portion into a small loaf on a cookie sheet. Spread about a tablespoon of ketchup on the top of each portion. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes, until the internal temperature is 155 to 160 degrees F and the meat loaves are cooked through. Serve hot.