Meatloaf, Green Beans, and Tortillas...non-typical Tutorial

This meal was inspired by an empty fridge, no time to make bread, and a need to always have a full, balanced meal for my family to eat haha.  It turned out to be a pretty big hit with the boys!  So, I figured I would pass it along to ya'll, just in case you have a night where you're desperate for something yummy and different. Notice, I didn't say, "A night where you have an empty fridge too," 'cause I'm sure none of you ever have that problem....right???

We'll start with the meatloaf.  This isn't your typical meatloaf, oh no ma'am.  This is cheese stuffed, bbq sauce topped, delicious goodness meatloaf!!  This recipe was inspired by The Virtuous Wife.  Amanda uses turkey in hers, so if you prefer to do that, you are more than welcome to, and it will still be truly delicious.

What you need for the meatloaf:
2.5 lbs 80/20 ground beef
Seasonings of your choice
1 egg, slightly beaten
Bread crumbs, oatmeal, or cracker crumbs (your preference)
Shredded Cheese
BBQ sauce

Mix all of the ingredients EXCEPT the cheese and bbq sauce, in a large bowl. Use your hands and get messy honey! I promsie, the kids will love being chased around by ooey gooey handed Mom. Mine do anyways, but I don't touch them of course. Put half of the meat into your loaf pan. Pat it down in there. Spread your shredded cheese on top of the meat in the loaf pan.  I had one of my boys put the cheese in for me.  They get to feel like they helped, which they love doing, and it kept my ooey gooey hands dedicated to the meat. Take the other half of the meat and place it on top of the cheese. Pat it all down to fill out the pan. Bake at 350 degrees F for 1 hour. Take it out, pour your bbq sauce on top, and bake for 15 more minutes. Done!

It's making me hungry just looking at it!

After you put the bbq sauce on the meatloaf, it will be time to start your green beans.  I was desperate for something different when it came to the veggie, so I decided to make a slight twist on our favorite holiday green bean casserole.  Use one family sized can of green beans, 1/3 can, family sized, cream of mushroom soup, Tony Chachere's Creole seasoning (don't use too much), and Garlic powder, about 1 Tbsp.  Mix it all together in a saucepan and heat it up. Serve nice and piping hot.

Tastes much better than it looks, I promise.

While you let your green beans simmer and are waiting for your meatloaf to finish up (your house should be smelling AMAZING at this point), go ahead and put together your tortillas.  These are really simple and pretty yummy.  They also make a really great snack for the afternoons when your kiddos get home from school, and they can make it themselves.  How about that?  Heat each tortilla in the microwave for about 10 seconds, or on your stove top for a couple seconds on each side.  You don't want them hot, or they'll melt the butter, but you do want them pliable (easy to roll).   On each tortilla, spread the sweet, delicious, addicting, Texas Roadhouse Style Butter (click link for tutorial).  Then, just roll the tortilla up, butter to the inside, nice and tight.

Best butter EVER, spread all over the tortilla.  YUMMMM!!!

Rolled nice and tight.

Voila!  You now have a full meal, that was actually really easy, and your family will be extremely grateful.  You will probably have rose petals laid at your feet as you walk through the house, along with all the accolades they will give you.  Even better, maybe, just maybe, your husband will be so impressed, that he will offer to do the dishes!  Okay, so I can't really make those kinds of promises to you, but your family will be well fed and most likely, enjoy every bite of their food.  That in itself is a wonderful gift.

Don't you just love the fine china I chose for this meal hehe