Comfort Food: Paleo Meatloaf and Mashed Cauliflower "Potatoes"

Comfort Food:  Paleo Meatloaf and Mashed Cauliflower "Potatoes"

I realize this is not the most visually appealing dish, but the taste makes up for its lack of photo-geniality.

The weather around here has really been on my nerves with the flip-flopping of temperatures and had us feeling blah with the recent coating of snow and ice.  I found this to be the perfect comfort food on a nasty winter night. 

Although I'm not typically a fan of ground meats, meatloaf was on my mind, so naturally I had to attempt a Paleo Meatloaf.  My mom would call this "stick-to-your-ribs-food" and rightfully so.

Paleo Meatloaf

1 lb. grass-fed ground beef (turkey or bison will work also)
1 cup organic tomato sauce -divided into 2 equal parts(If you don't make your own, an 8 oz. can of organic sauce will work)
1 roma tomato - diced
1/4 cup organic onion - diced
1 clove organic garlic - minced
1/2 organic green pepper - diced
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
1 tsp. ground cumin
1/2 ground pepper
1 organic free-range brown egg - gently beaten
1 tablespoon organic coconut flour

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  In a large mixing bowl combine ground meat, half the tomato sauce, vegetables, spices, herbs, and coconut flour.  Once ingredients are thoroughly mixed, add the beaten egg and stir well with a fork.   Add mixture to a greased 8.5 in. x4.5 in. loaf dish.  Press down into dish with a rubber spatula to force out any air pockets.  Pour remaining tomato sauce over loaf and spread using a rubber spatula.  Bake at 350 degrees for 50-55 minutes.  While that is baking, you can prepare the the mashed cauliflower.

Mashed Cauliflower "Potatoes"

2 heads organic cauliflower- broken into florets
2 tablespoons organic grass-fed butter or ghee
1 clove minced organic garlic
1 tsp. chives or 1/2 tsp. italian herbs
1/2 ts. ground black pepper
Sea Salt to taste

Steam cauliflower in a steamer basket inside a large pot of boiling water for about 5-7 minutes.  Remove from heat and place cauliflower in a large blender or food processor.  Do not add liquid or your cauliflower with become runny.  Be patient. Stop the blender and stir the cauliflower making sure to push any florets down so they get into the mix.   Repeat until they are consistent and look like mashed potatoes and pour into a medium sauce pan over low heat.  Add butter and stir until melted before adding herbs, garlic, pepper and salt.  Continue stirring over low heat for a few minutes to help the moisture out and thicken the cauliflower mixture.   Serve topped with a thick slice of Paleo Meatloaf and continue to wish winter away, (unless of course you are lucky enough to live on top of a snowy mountain with a great pair of skis)~~~