Bloody Rats on Cheesy Rice (Mini Meat Loaves)

Rats love cheese! And so will your little monsters! They'll be goblin' these bloody rats right up!

Rat Ingredients:

1 lb ground beef

2 tbsps finely chopped onion

1 egg

1/4 cup dry bread crumbs

1/4 tsp dry mustard

1/4 tsp paprika

1/4 tsp pepper

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp thyme

1/2 tsp sage

4 - 1" X 1/2" cheese cubes (I used mozzarella)

dry spaghetti broken in fourths for whiskers

frozen peas for eyes

thin sliced carrots for ears

Bloody Sauce Ingredients:

1 1/4 cups tomato sauce

1/2 cup water

1 tsp sugar

1 tsp worcestershire sauce

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

Cheesy Rice:

2 tbsp butter

2 tsps minced garlic

2 tbsps finely chopped onion

2 tbsps flour

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

1 1/4 cups chicken broth

2 cups shredded cheese (I used Monterey Jack and Habanero Cheddar)

2 cups cooked brown rice

Combine the ground beef, chopped onion, egg, bread crumbs, and seasonings for the rats. Take a piece of cheese and encase it in the meat mixture.

Form the meat roughly in the shape of a rat, kind of teardrop shape with a point on one end. Place in a greased baking dish.

Mix the bloody sauce ingredients together and pour over the rats. Bake in a 350°F oven covered for 45 minutes. Then remove the lid and bake an extra 20 minutes basting a couple of times with the sauce.

While the rats bake make the cheesy rice that they will love to sit on! Cook the rice and set aside. Next heat the butter and add the onion and garlic. Cook 1-2 minutes. Whisk in the flour, salt and pepper and cook 1 minute before whisking in the chicken broth. Cook a few minutes until thickened. Remove from heat and stir in the shredded cheese and rice.

Pour the rice mixture into an oiled baking dish. Now to create the rats! Lift them from their baking dish along with their oozing guts (melted cheese). Carefully stick raw spaghetti pieces in near the pointy end of the meat for whiskers. Press the frozen peas in for eyes and the carrot slices in for the ears.  Place them on their bed of rice.

Cover and bake at 350°F for about 20 minutes or until heated through.

Serves 4 goblins!

Happy Halloween 🎃