individual meatloaf "muffins"

I stole 2 ideas here - Carrie's yummy recipe (hope you don't mind my cutting and pasting the recipe!), and Rachael Ray's muffin pan for meatloaf idea. It worked great - faster cooking time (25 minutes), and easy to toss leftovers in the freezer for another dinner. I also used half beef half lamb as my store was out of ground turkey.

Turkey and Apricot Meatloaf

posted by admin on sep 05 2009 | poultry

• This might be the best, most moist meatloaf ever. Delicious!! I freeze and pull out for an easy dinner. From Gourmet.com.
• 1 cup coarse fresh bread crumbs (from 2 slices white sandwich bread)
• 1/3 cup whole milk
• 2 medium celery ribs, finely chopped
• 1 medium carrot, finely chopped
• 1 medium onion, finely chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
• 1 tablespoon ancho chile powder
• 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 lb ground dark-meat turkey
• 1/2 cup dried California apricots, finely chopped
• 1/2 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley
• 3 tablespoons apricot preserves, divided
• 1 1/2 tablespoons soy sauce, divided
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
• 2 teaspoons water

• Preheat oven to 350°F with rack in middle.
• Soak bread crumbs in milk in a large bowl.
• Meanwhile, cook celery, carrot, onion, and garlic with chile powder and 1/2 teaspoon salt in oil in a large heavy skillet over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 10 minutes. Add to bread-crumb mixture with turkey, dried apricots, parsley, 1 tablespoon preserves, 1 tablespoon soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, eggs, 1 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper and mix with your hands until just combined. Form into a 9- by 5-inch oval loaf (mixture will spread slightly) in a 13- by 9-inch shallow baking dish.
• Stir together water, remaining 2 tablespoons preserves, and remaining 1/2 tablespoon soy sauce and brush over surface of meatloaf. Bake until an instant-read thermometer inserted into center registers 165°F, 1 to 1 1/4 hours. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.