Tag: meal

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About that App…(and How to Find Southern Illinois Info)

Once upon a time, there was a free app that correlated with info on A Slice of Southern Illinois. Eventually, with the original app development company, it became too difficult too keep up with changing requirements for common app stores. So, I disabled the app–for now. I would eventually like to create a new one, but I am taking my time to jump into that process. 

Meanwhile, I still have pages accessible through the menu on this website for annual events, local  food  things to see, and more. I try to update these from time to time, but they are not likely going to be as current as the Facebook page.

As many of you know by now, my health is somewhat of a rollercoaster ride since covid did a number on me. (Yes, Long Haul Covid is a real thing, and I don’t wish it on anyone!) I am also doing some jewelry-making and crafting  now that are actually therapeutic for me. When possible, I participate in farmer’s markets and other venues. However, I have to do a lot of prioritizing and “energy budgeting”  for my health. With that being said, knocking myself out to keep the events page current as well as other changes can’t be my priority at this time. There is only so much energy, and after the whole near death/ventilator experience, I have a new perspective. Living life is a priority.

SO, I am attempting to make it easier to search on the A Slice of Southern Illinois Facebook Page. Hopefully, a series of hashtag terms (below) will help you to find info by town or type within Southern Illinois. It won’t be perfect (brain fog is real too,) and I may forget obvious hashtags and miss some things, but it’s a start. Even if no one else uses them, it will help me…

This is the link to the A Slice of Southern Illinois Facebook Page:

https://www.facebook.com/asliceofSoIL?mibextid=ZbWKwL

This is how you use hashtags in the search bar to seek info or types of posts:

If you are seeking info on a Southern Illinois town, try searching the A Slice of Southern Illinois Facebook Page with a hashtag. (Example: #Carbondale )

The hashtags below are to seek out posts with the types of info listed:

SIbreweries breweries

SIclosures closings

SIcares good deeds, service and volunteer opportunities, good news

SIcoffee coffee

SIentertainment entertainment

SIevents regional events

SIeventvenue event venues

SIfurbabies pet related

#SIhistory regional history

SIkids for children

SIlodging local cabins, B&B’s, etc.

SImarket Farmer’s Markets & locally made products

SIshopslocal locally owned shops & businesses

SItastes restaurants, food trucks, food-related

SItea tea

SIthingstosee things to see in our region

SIweather weather-related post

SIwineries wineries

WatermelonFalls (by A Slice of Southern Illinois) handmade jewelry, upcycles, & giftables

These search terms are currently pinned in a post on the A Slice of Southern Illinois Facebook Page. It is always a work in progress…

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Kiki’s Salsa-Loaded Meatloaf

What do you fix for dinner when you have ground beef but can’t decide if you want tacos or meatloaf? Mija recently solved that dilemma at our house by making a wonderful Salsa-Loaded Meat Loaf.

Ingredients

Meatloaf

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 onion chopped

1 garlic clove, minced

1 pound ground beef

½ cup salsa

¾ teaspoons salt

¼ teaspoon ground black pepper

1/8 teaspoon ground guajillo pepper

½ teaspoon cumin

2 eggs, beaten

¼ cup ketchup

¼ cup sour cream, Mexican crema, or a mix of both

½ cup dried breadcrumbs

½ cup shredded cheddar (or other melting cheese)

Glaze

½ cup ketchup

½ cup salsa (jarred is fine)

¼ cup brown sugar

1 tablespoon Salsa Lizano

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.

Heat oil in skillet over medium high heat. Add onion, then garlic. Be careful not to burn the garlic. Cook until soft, approximately 7 minutes.

Combine in a large bowl:  the sautéed onion, garlic, and ground beef.

Combine in a medium bowl:  eggs, salt, pepper, ground guajillo, and cumin in a medium bowl. Add the ketchup, salsa, and sour cream. Mix together with a large fork.

Back to the large bowl:  pour the egg and spice mixture over the ground beef. Add the breadcrumbs and thoroughly mix by hand.

Place half of the meat loaf mixture into a greased a 9×13 loaf pan. Spread the cheese over it. Then cover the cheese with the remaining meat loaf mixture.

Bake the meat loaf approximately 45 minutes. Ground meat must cook to an internal temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit to be safe. Carefully remove the pan from the oven. Pour any excess juices/grease into a heat safe container to cool for disposal.

For the glaze, stir the ketchup, salsa, brown sugar, and Salsa Lizano together in a saucepan and cook over medium heat for approximately 5 minutes. Spread the cooked glaze over the meat loaf. You may wish to save some or make a double batch for serving. Place the glazed meatloaf back into the oven for another 5 minutes. 

Serving suggestions

You may wish to use extra glaze, salsa fresca, pico de gallo, queso fresco, queso blanco, cheddar, or avocado slices in plating.

Substitutions

Guajillo chiles are a mild heat pepper with a slightly fruity taste registering 2,500 to 5,000 on the Scoville scale. For comparison purposes, jalapeños are 2500 to 8000 and poblanos are 1000 to 1500 SHU.

Salsa Lizano is a very popular Costa Rican condiment that is found in most Costa Rican homes and restaurants. It is a brown sauce made from a special blend of vegetables and spices that is used to add flavor to most savory dishes and meats. If you cannot find it (my local international grocery store carries it,) it can be ordered online. Some people substitute worcestershire sauces when they run out or cannot access it.