If you're a Miranda fan you'll no doubt be familiar with the scene when she bemoans her boyfriend for buying her a Savoury Muffin.
A savoury muffin?! Life is full of enough disappointments Gary… Savoury muffin?! I don’t know you anymore!
Goodness only know what she'd make of the recipe I'm sharing today. Wagyu Meatloaf Cupcakes with Sweet Potato Frosting. Even more savoury than a savoury muffin these bitesized meaty morsels are made utilising frozen speciality burgers and frozen sweet potato mash.
Iceland (they of the frozen food - not the country) challenged me to help them deliver the #PowerOfFrozen message. In 2015 they launched their www.poweroffrozen.co.uk website to help explain the true benefits of frozen food. Freezing ingredients at the peak of perfection locks in the freshness until you're ready to use them, preserving them at their most appetising and nutritious. However the perception of frozen food is often that it is all about highly processed convenience products. Of course there is an element of that and I love being able to grab a frozen pizza or ready meal from the freezer as much as the next person but that's only part of the story. Provenance, Quality, Taste and Health & Nutrition also come into the equation. Frozen doesn't mean that you need to compromise on flavour or on health benefits. The truth is that the modern freezing methods lock in the natural flavours in foods and retain the nutritional health benefits. Freezing allows us to choose from a vast selection of seasonal ingredients all year round. It can help reduce food waste as you only defrost what you need with leftover fresh food being frozen for another day in individual waste reducing portions. Freezing enables food to have a hugely extended shelf life. Less waste, great value and and impressive choice plus you always have something on hand for a quick meal. What's not to like about the #PowerOfFrozen
I've got a compact four drawer freezer in my kitchen and a second huge chest freezer in my garage. I really don't know how I would manage without them. Thanks to a recent visit to Iceland both are now well and truly stocked. Along with the basics of frozen peas, fish fingers, garlic bread and pizza I also picked up a few surprises. The sheer choice of frozen products in the aisles was astounding. Asparagus Spears, Sweet Potato Fries, Curly Kale and Potato Gratins all made it into my trolley along with Crocodile, Kangaroo, Wild Boar, Wagyu and Venison from the Kenzie range of speciality meats. My kids were particularly delighted with their treat of Millie's ready to bake Cookie Dough. Time to unleash my inner Elsa and unlock the Power of Frozen with my recipe for Wagyu Meatloaf Cupcakes with Sweet Potato Frosting. These cute cupcakes are irresistible to kids both big and small. Super quick and easy to make you could even decorate them with sweetcorn and pea 'sprinkles'.
Wagyu Meatloaf Cupcakes with Sweet Potato Frosting
2 x 340g Packs of Kezie Wagyu Burgers - defrosted
1 Onion - finely chopped or grated
1 Carrot - grated
1 Egg - beaten
50g Panko or Breadcrumbs
1 Tsp English Mustard
2 Tsp Worcestershire Sauce
2 cloves Garlic, crushed
Salt & Pepper
2 Tbsp Chopped Parsley
1 600g bag of Iceland Sweet Potato Mash
Preheat your oven to 180c
Place the defrosted Wagyu Burgers into a large bowl and add the onion, carrot, beaten egg, breadcrumbs, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, seasoning and parsley. Mix well until fully combined, easiest done with your hands.
Grease a 12 hole muffin tin and divide the meatloaf mixture equally, compacting it down to fill each hole. Place in the oven for 15 minutes.
Meanwhile cook the sweet potato mash according to the packet instructions and allow it to cool slightly.
Remove the meatloaf cupcakes from the oven and drain off any fat.
Fill a piping bag with the mash and "ice" your cupcakes (or pile on the sweet potato and fluff it up with a fork)
Return to the oven for a further 15 minutes.
For further #PowerOfFrozen inspiration take a look at these recipes from food blogging colleagues who have also been finding out what surprises lie within the freezers of Iceland.
Spaghetti with Kale, Asparagus, Chilli & Lemon
Grilled Seabass with Lemon Garlic Butter Sauce and Colcannon
Disclosure : This is a commissioned recipe for Iceland. All views expressed are my own.
Disclosure : This is a commissioned recipe for Iceland. All views expressed are my own.
