This post is a republished blog post from 2015.
Have you ever been slowed down? Maybe you didn’t choose it, but perhaps something happened at one point or another that forced you to stop, rest, and hide away. Fall is a resting season for nature. The earth prepares itself for a few months of downtime so it can be ready for new growth in the spring. If the leaves didn’t change and wither, and the ground didn’t rest from the growing season, it might have nothing left to give come springtime.
This past month, my family has been forced to slow down; sickness grounded us. We weren’t able to go out every night, stuffing in projects, clients, and work, juggling too many engagements and promises each day. We missed our vacation, and we relied on friends and family to care for us. We actually had to sleep, and the most exciting part of each day was thinking about what to have for dinner and doing fresh loads of laundry.
Today I realized the last time I felt this kind of freedom—amid hospital visits, sleepless nights, and long days watching movies and sipping soup—was when Noah was born. You know that calm you feel when you bring a new baby home but still feel kinda crappy from, well, birth? Ha!
There has been this underlying joy I haven’t felt in a while. I love how much God draws near to us when we don’t think we need Him, when it feels like things are going smoothly, when in reality we need Him desperately. The time I’ve spent in prayer lately has been precious. I have a clear head, and I feel like this fall will be the best yet because, before I am anything else, I am a daughter, a mother, and a wife—and that feels really good.
Are you in a season of rest? Do you need a season of quiet? Choose one right now if need be, re-evaluate, and only say yes to what you are truly supposed to. Appointments can be canceled; you aren’t as obligated to things as you may feel. Love on your family, spend time choosing how you want life to go, and don’t let life choose for you while you aren’t paying attention.
P.S. This meatloaf—make it, just for the sandwiches.
Home-Style Meat Loaf Sandwich
Equipment
- Glass baking dish
- Parchment-lined sheet pan
- Chef’s Knife
- Cutting Board
- Broiler
Ingredients
- 2 lbs 85/15 ground beef
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup ketchup halved
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 clove crushed fresh garlic
- 1/2 cup finely grated fresh onion
- 1/2 cup panko bread crumbs
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1 tsp dried thyme fresh works too
- 1 tsp marjoram
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 1/2 tsp kosher salt I like it on the salty side!
- 1/2 tsp chili flakes
- 1 egg
- 2 tbsp mustard
- Dash soy sauce
Instructions
- Mix all ingredients except 1/4 cup ketchup gently—use a fork or stiff fingers so the meat stays loose and tender. Shape into a loaf in the center of a glass baking dish. Spread remaining ketchup on top.
- Bake at 350ºF for at least 60 minutes, uncovered. The ketchup will caramelize into a crusty, tomatoey top that practically begs to become a sandwich.
- Refrigerate overnight so the loaf firms up for clean slicing. (Optional)
- Sandwich Prep
- Arrange 4 slices of meat loaf on a parchment-lined sheet pan along with 4 split ciabatta buns topped with cheese. Add a squeeze of ketchup to each slice of meat.
- Broil on high for 3-4 minutes. Watch closely—pull the bread if it browns too quickly. When the meat is heated through, sandwich with your cheesy ciabatta and top with greens of your choice.
- Devour!