Meal Prep Monday: Spooky Eats

Ingredients:

• 16 ounces black spaghetti (squid ink spaghetti or black bean spaghetti)
• 2 cups marinara sauce
• 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• Fresh basil leaves for garnish

For the Meatballs:

• 1 pound ground beef or ground pork
• 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/2 cup milk
• 2 eggs
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• Salt and pepper to taste

For the Mozzarella Eyes:

• Small mozzarella pearls, cut in half
• Black olives (pitted)

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).

2. In a bowl, combine the ground beef or pork, breadcrumbs, grated Parmesan cheese, milk, eggs, minced garlic, salt, and pepper. Mix until well combined.

3. Shape the meat mixture into meatballs, about the size of golf balls.

4. Heat a large ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat. Add a small amount of oil. Once hot, add the meatballs and cook until browned on all sides.

5. Transfer the skillet with the meatballs to the preheated oven and bake for about 15-20 minutes or until the meatballs are cooked through.

6. Cook the black spaghetti according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.

7. Take each meatball and press a small piece of mozzarella pearl into the center. This will create the eyeball effect. Slice a black olive into small rounds. Place one olive round in the center of each mozzarella-covered meatball to create the pupil.

8. Heat the marinara sauce in a saucepan until warm. In a serving bowl, toss the cooked black spaghetti with the warm marinara sauce. Place the mozzarella and olive meatball eyes on top of the spaghetti.

9. Sprinkle grated Parmesan cheese over the spaghetti. Garnish the dish with fresh basil leaves for a touch of greenery and a spooky appearance.

Ingredients:

• 8 large flour tortillas
• 4 cups shredded cheddar cheese
• 2 cups cooked chicken, shredded (optional)
• 1 cup black beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 cup corn kernels (canned or frozen)
• 1/2 cup diced red bell pepper
• 1/2 cup diced green bell pepper
• 1/2 cup diced red onion
• 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
• Cooking spray
• Sour cream and salsa for serving

Instructions:

1. In a mixing bowl, combine the cooked chicken (if using), black beans, corn, diced red bell pepper, diced green bell pepper, diced red onion, and chopped fresh cilantro. Mix well to combine.

2. Lay out four of the flour tortillas on a clean work surface. Sprinkle a generous portion of shredded cheddar cheese evenly over each tortilla. Add a generous scoop of the prepared filling mixture over the cheese on each tortilla. Top each with an additional layer of shredded cheddar cheese.

3. Using a sharp knife, carefully carve jack-o'-lantern faces on the top tortilla of each remaining tortilla. Be creative and make spooky or silly faces! Place the tortillas on top of each base to form quesadilla sandwiches.

4. Heat a large skillet over medium heat and lightly coat it with cooking spray.

5. Carefully transfer one quesadilla to the skillet and cook until the bottom tortilla is golden brown and crispy, and the cheese begins to melt, about 2-3 minutes.

6. Carefully flip the quesadilla to cook the other side until it's golden brown and the cheese is fully melted, about 2-3 more minutes.

7. Remove the first quesadilla from the skillet and place it on a cutting board. Let it cool for a minute before using a sharp knife to cut it into wedges.

8. Repeat the cooking process with the remaining quesadillas.

Ingredients for Meatloaf Foot:

• 2 pounds ground beef or ground meat of your choice (e.g., pork, turkey, or a mix)
• 1 cup breadcrumbs
• 1/2 cup milk
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup diced onions
• 1/2 cup diced green bell pepper
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/4 cup ketchup
• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (adjust to taste)
• Ketchup or tomato sauce for "bloody" topping

Ingredients for Mashed Brains:

• 4 cups mashed potatoes
• 1/2 cup milk
• 4 tablespoons butter
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

Preparing the Meatloaf Foot:

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).

2. In a large mixing bowl, combine ground meat, breadcrumbs, milk, eggs, diced onions, diced green bell pepper, minced garlic, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, salt, black pepper, dried oregano, dried thyme, dried basil, and cayenne pepper. Mix everything together until well combined.

3. On a baking sheet or in a large baking dish, shape the meat mixture into a foot shape. Mold it to resemble a human foot, complete with toes and an ankle.

4. Create toenails by cutting small, thin slices of onion and placing them on the end of each "toe."

5. Bake the meatloaf foot in the preheated oven for about 45-60 minutes, or until it's fully cooked and has an internal temperature of 160°F (71°C).

6. Remove the meatloaf foot from the oven and allow it to cool slightly.

7. For a gory touch, pour ketchup or tomato sauce over the meatloaf foot to create a "bloody" effect.

Preparing the Mashed Brains:

1. While the meatloaf foot is baking, prepare the mashed potatoes. You can use your favorite mashed potato recipe or follow these steps:

   • Boil peeled and diced potatoes in salted water until tender.
   • Drain the potatoes and return them to the pot.
   • Add milk, butter, salt, and pepper to the potatoes.
   • Mash everything together until the potatoes are smooth and creamy.

2. Once the mashed potatoes are ready, shape them into a brain-like mound on a serving platter.

3. For added Halloween flair, you can use ketchup or tomato sauce to create "bloody" streaks on top of the mashed potatoes.

4. Place the baked Meatloaf Foot next to the Mashed Brains on the serving platter.

Ingredients:

For the Dough:

• 1 pound pizza dough (store-bought or homemade)
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
• 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

For the Filling:

• 1/2 pound ground beef or sausage (your choice)
• 1/2 cup diced onion
• 1/2 cup diced bell pepper (red or green)
• 1/2 cup diced mushrooms (optional)
• 1 cup marinara sauce
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

Preparing the Filling:

1. In a skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef or sausage until browned and cooked through, breaking it into small pieces as it cooks. Drain any excess fat.

2. Add the diced onion, diced bell pepper, and diced mushrooms (if using) to the skillet. Sauté until the vegetables are tender, about 5 minutes.

3. Stir in the marinara sauce, dried basil, dried oregano, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 5-10 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld. Remove from heat and set aside.

Assembling the Snake Stuffed Bread:

1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).

2. On a lightly floured surface, roll out the pizza dough into a rectangle approximately 12x18 inches.

3. In a small bowl, mix together the olive oil, minced garlic, dried oregano, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes (if using).

4. Brush the olive oil mixture evenly over the rolled-out dough.

5. Spread the prepared Filling evenly over the dough, leaving a border of about 1 inch around the edges.

6. Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese over the Filling.

7. Starting from one of the longer sides, carefully roll up the dough, jelly-roll style, to encase the filling. Roll it tightly to create the snake's body.

8. Shape the rolled dough into an "S" shape or a snake-like coil on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Tuck the ends underneath to secure the shape.

9. Use small pieces of dough to form a snake's head and tail at opposite ends of the coil.

10. Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes or until the bread is golden brown and the cheese is bubbly.

11. Remove from the oven and let it cool for a few minutes before slicing into your Snake Stuffed Bread.

Additional Filling Ideas:

1. Vegetarian Delight: Replace the ground meat with sautéed spinach, mushrooms, and crumbled feta cheese for a vegetarian-friendly option.

2. Buffalo Chicken: Mix cooked shredded chicken with buffalo sauce and cream cheese for a spicy twist.

3. Mediterranean Flavors: Use ground lamb or beef, and fill the bread with a mixture of diced tomatoes, olives, feta cheese, and Mediterranean spices.

4. Tex-Mex Fiesta: Seasoned ground beef or turkey, black beans, corn, diced jalapeños, and cheddar cheese make for a southwestern-inspired filling.

5. Caprese Combo: Layer slices of fresh mozzarella, ripe tomatoes, and fresh basil leaves for an Italian-inspired snake.

6. Pizza Paradise: Create a pizza-inspired filling with pepperoni slices, diced bell peppers, onions, and mozzarella cheese.

7. Spinach and Artichoke: A mixture of cooked spinach, chopped artichoke hearts, cream cheese, and grated Parmesan cheese is a creamy and flavorful option.

8. Sweet and Savory: Try a dessert-inspired filling with cream cheese, cinnamon, sugar, and raisins or chocolate chips for a sweet snake bread.

Ingredients:

• 1 pound pizza dough (store-bought or homemade)
• 1 cup tomato sauce
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Sliced mozzarella cheese
• Shredded cheddar cheese
• Black olives
• Cornmeal (for rolling out the dough)

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to the temperature specified on the pizza dough package or your homemade dough recipe.

2. Sprinkle a generous amount of cornmeal on your work surface. Roll out the pizza dough on the cornmeal into a large circle (about 12 inches in diameter) to create the pizza base.

3. In a small bowl, mix together the tomato sauce, dried oregano, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.

4. Spread a layer of the prepared tomato sauce evenly over the pizza dough.

5. Sprinkle a generous amount of shredded cheddar cheese over the tomato sauce.

6. Cut slices of mozzarella into ghost shapes.

7. Place mozzarella ghosts all over the pizza, leaving some space around the edges for the crust. Use black olive slices to create spooky or friendly ghost faces on top of the mozzarella ghosts. Get creative with your ghost designs!

8. Cut black olives in half to create the bodies of spiders. Slice the other halves into thin strips to use as legs.

9. Place olive bodies and olive slices as spider decorations on the pizza.

10. Bake in the preheated oven according to your dough instructions, usually around 12-15 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown, and the cheese is melted and bubbly.

11. Remove the pizza from the oven and let it cool slightly before slicing.

Ingredients:

• 2 pie crusts (store-bought or homemade)
• 2 cups cooked chicken, diced
• 1 cup frozen mixed vegetables (peas, carrots, corn, and green beans)
• 1/2 cup diced potatoes
• 1/2 cup diced onions
• 1/4 cup butter
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 1/2 cup milk
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).

2. In a large pot, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the diced onions and potatoes and cook until they start to soften, about 5 minutes.

3. Stir in the all-purpose flour and cook for an additional 2 minutes, stirring constantly.

4. Gradually whisk in the chicken broth and milk, ensuring there are no lumps. Continue to cook and stir until the mixture thickens and comes to a boil.

5. Add the cooked chicken and frozen mixed vegetables to the pot. Stir to combine. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Remove from heat.

6. Line a greased pie dish with one of the pie crusts to create the bottom crust.

7. Pour the chicken and vegetable mixture into the pie dish.

8. Use additional dough to create a monster face on top of the pie. You can cut out eyes and a mouth. Us these pieces to add shape to the eyes, a nose, and a mouth.

9. Place the second pie crust on top of the filling. Trim any excess dough and crimp the edges to seal the pie.

10. Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and the filling is bubbling.

11. Allow the Chicken Pot Pie with Monster Face Crust to cool slightly before serving.

Ingredients:

• 4 Italian sausages (sweet or hot)
• 1 red bell pepper
• 1 green bell pepper
• 1 yellow onion
• 4 hoagie rolls or sub rolls
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Ketchup or mustard (optional, for serving)

Instructions:

1. Preheat your grill or stovetop grill pan over medium-high heat.

2. While the grill is heating, thinly slice the red and green bell peppers and the onion into long, thin strips. These will resemble the "worms."

3. Grill the Italian sausages until they are cooked through and have grill marks, about 15-20 minutes. You can split them lengthwise if you prefer.

4. While the sausages are grilling, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the sliced peppers and onions, and sauté until they become tender and slightly caramelized, about 10-12 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

5. Once the sausages are done grilling, remove them from the heat and let them rest for a few minutes. Then, slice them thinly lengthwise to resemble "worms."

6. Split the hoagie rolls or sub rolls and place the "worm-like" sausage slices inside.

7. Top the sausages with the sautéed peppers and onions.