Rat-Loaf

Creep out your family and friends with this dinner that will be a hit for the Halloween season.  This isn't a recipe. Use your family's favorite meat loaf recipe.  This is a simple method to gross everybody out, and really, isn't that what Halloween's all about?

I made a big 4 1/2 pound rat because there's nothing better than rat-loaf sandwiches during the week.  Take half of your meatloaf mixture and form a triangle (of sorts) on a piece of parchment.  Add your favorite BBQ sauce in the middle of the rat bottom, leaving a clean meat border. 

Add your favorite cheese on top of the BBQ sauce (I used string cheese) and I also topped the cheese with French fried onions.  Use your imagination and whatever looks gross to you in your own pantry and fridge.

Make a second triangle with the other half of the meatloaf mixture and carefully add that to the bottom half of your rat.  Take your time making sure to seal all the edges tightly so you don't lose any of his guts while he cooks.

Transfer your rat to a baking sheet and re-shape him as needed.  I used pearl onion eyes. A Black olive nose. Spaghetti whiskers and sliced new potatoes for his ears.  For his tail I used 2 refrigerated breadsticks.

Remove your spaghetti before baking. Bake your rat in a 375 degree oven (so he becomes a lovely deep, dark, rat cooked color).

 Half way through the baking process cover your rats tail with aluminum foil so it doesn't burn up and top him with either ketchup, BBQ sauce or chili sauce.  I also topped mine with additional crumbled French fried onions for good measure.    Continue cooking your rat until he reaches an internal temperature of  160 degrees.  Remove from the oven and let him sit for about 10 minutes before serving.  Add his wiskers back in an slice him at the table for all to see.

There now, who wants the head???  Mmmmm. Now that's good eatin'

I hope I've suficciently grossed you out!  Who knew that dead baked rat would taste so good!