ummm cupcakes...???!

....looks like a cupcake.....but could be meat....could be cake...it looks like meatcake...!...or rather meatloaf "cupcakes".....yeah i know i know this is not really a sweet treat.....well maybe if you love meat it is....but needed to bring an appetizer to a party....and it's still cupcake shaped so i'm going with it here...!

...these are really easy....use your favorite meatloaf recipe....i don't really use a recipe...kinda wing it and use whatever's in the house....but this is similar to what was used:

1 pound lean ground beef
1 tablespoon canola oil
1 large clove garlic, chopped fine
1/2 cup chopped carrot
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 teaspoon basil or italian herb mix
1/2 cup breadcrumbs
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 egg, slightly beaten

...saute oil, garlic, carrot, and onion until soft but not brown.....let cool then add to the ground beef....add rest of ingredients and mix.....add to cupcake liners (used the aluminum ones with the extra liner as i wasn't sure if they would leak through plain liners)....

...then bake at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes or so....after removing from the oven add a piece of provolone cheese on top of each "cupcake".....

...then "pipe" with mashed potatoes....

3 large white potatoes
3 tablespoons butter
about 1/2 cup milk
salt/pepper to taste

...peel and dice potatoes into cubes...boil in water for about 20-25 minutes or until a fork goes into the potatoes easily...drain....add butter and beat with mixer until smooth...add milk slowly until you get the consistency you want (to be able to pipe)....

...topped them with a piece of carrot (defrosted frozen carrot square!).....and eat....!....these are much better warm...so when taking to the party they cooled a little and i was afraid to reheat because i wasn't sure what would happen if they were nuked....but next time i'd try that to see what happens....!...i bet these would be great for a super bowl party too....

...anyway....more actual sugar stuff soon....!