Fact #1: My family was a big believer in long car trips. We were continually driving back and forth from Michigan and New Jersey, in addition to driving just about anywhere in the state of Michigan. (You can drive over 600 miles in a straight shot just by driving from the Ohio border to the tip of the Keweenaw Peninsula…I know this from experience.)
Fact #2: My parents were big believers in not using air conditioning while driving and instead preferred to keep the windows down.
Those two facts were crucial to the following story.
We were stuck on I-80 across Pennsylvania in horrible traffic sometime in July. And by stuck, I mean that we were parked for hours on what should have been a highway next to a large semi.
My younger brother at the time was unable to say the sound “tr” and instead said “f”, so a word like “trail” would become “fail.”
You can probably see where I am going with this.
My brother was seated on my mother’s lap, and she was trying to amuse him by pointing out things around us. He then looked at the semi, and yelled, “Look mom, a trucker! A trucker!”
Except he didn’t say trucker because he said an “f” sound instead of “tr.”
Unfortunately for my parents, the semi truck driver parked next to us also had his windows down, and thus was able to hear loud and clear what he thought my little brother was calling him.
That was the most awkward few hours in traffic ever. However, for once, we did use the air conditioning.
Trucker Friendly Vegetable Turkey Meatloaf
your momma’s meatloaf made healthier
Ingredients
- 1 large bell pepper, diced into small pieces
- 1 large onion, diced into small pieces
- 1 14 oz can petite diced tomatoes, drained very well
- 1/4 c parmesan cheese, grated
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 beaten eggs
- 3/4 c skim milk
- 2/3 c dry whole-wheat breadcrumbs
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- 1 package 93/7 ground turkey (normally 19-20 oz)
How-to
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees and set up racks so the top rack is in the middle of the oven and the bottom rack is at the lowest setting.
- Mix together everything except the ground turkey in a large bowl.
- Add ground turkey and mix well (you’ll probably have to use your hands).
- Dump mixture into a large loaf pan (you might need to pack it in so it fits). I think glass is best but use whatever you have! Since some juices might spill over the side, make a tray of aluminum foil and place on the bottom rack.
- Bake for 1 1/2 hours (place on the top rack directly over your foil tray) until top is golden brown and internal temperature is 160 degrees. Blot off any fat with paper towels.
- Serve with your desired meatloaf toppings (I prefer ketchup) and mashed potatoes!
domestic diva, M.D. 
Thanks for your visit and your ‘follow’. I doubt I will have many recipes that you will want to try, you’re obviously very good at this cooking game…more than I can say for my soup!!
Hahaha well you’re much better at photography than me!
I’ve never had meatloaf – it’s not a ‘thing’, here in the UK. I’ve often thought about trying it though – this sounds like a good recipe!
If you want to make it even better, you can sear it on each side in a tiny bit of olive oil 🙂
Nice Blog! Thank you for reading and following mine.
Thank you and you’re welcome!
I am literally laughing out loud at the Pennsylvania traffic jam story. I love it! So glad you shared that, it made my night.
And, I think your recipe sounds delicious. I love the ingredients, and I know Hubby is going to want to try this. He’s a meatloaf lover from way back. 🙂 Thanks!
Love your posts! And the very relevant recipes that follow!
I have had some bad experiences with meatloaf from my youth that have left me scarred (lets just put it that my mother is not a great cook) but this recipe I am going to try! I love that you added in some veggies…perfect for my kids!
I actually used to have a tank top that said “trucker,” only the upper case T and the lower case r were right on top of each other, so it kid of looked like it DIDN’T say trucker, as the two letters combined gave the appearance of an f.
I hate I-80.
That is all.
I don’t know anyone who likes it
This meatloaf recipe sounds great! Can’t wait to try it!
too funny! I am glad your parents started using the AC 🙂 the meatloaf looks pretty healthy with the veggies poking out of the meat 😉
Thanks so much for visiting my site, glad I found your blog! Your posts make me laugh out loud, will try cooking something from your site soon for sure, the stuffed pork chops look delicious . 🙂
Love it – great recipe!
Hi, thanks for finding the “rezichfamilykitchen3.” Your visit lead us to your site, we’ll be following your adventures.
I’ve always been fascinated by meat loafs probably because I never grew up eating them. I will definitely try your recipe the next time I am in meat loaf phase!
mmm, can’t wait to try this meatloaf!
I can totally relate to the I-80 driving experience as I am from the Pennsylvania/New Jersey Border and drove that many times to and from Penn State. When there is traffic/construction/accident it is THE worst. I can also relate to the driving with the windows down with no AC since my parents also believed in the same philosophy – so much so that they bought me my first car sans AC (cheaper). I love meatloaf so I can wait to try it!
That should say “can’t wait to try it” – oops 🙂
Great story and my favourite childhood meal – meatloaf! I have a similar story about my daughter. She’s 20 mths and learning lots of new words. She can very proudly recognise clocks and loves to shout out the word. When she saw a watch and said clock, I said it was a little clock and the others are big clocks. Now whenever we get to a certain part of a story she loves she points out the ‘big clock’ – however she can’t say L’s. Just hoping she doesn’t see any ‘big clocks’ in public!!!
Oh my gosh that is priceless.
Loved your trucker story I lol and as for meat loaf the only time I ever made it my husband ate it a couple days later to get food poisoning. Dare I say I have never made it again, but your recipe looks really yummy.
Oh I know that feeling- I haven’t eaten key lime pie again for that same reason!