April Fool’s Meat Loaf “Cake”

Serve cake for dinner—or maybe serve meat loaf for dessert! Either way, this Meat Loaf "Cake" will keep 'em laughing. It's perfect for April Fool's Day or any time you want to make your family smile. Fool everyone with this delicious surprise meat loaf and tell them: Life is uncertain, eat dessert first!

For the Meat Loaf:
2 pounds lean ground beef
3 large eggs
1 cup bread crumbs
2/3 cup sliced green onions
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley
3 large garlic cloves, minced
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper

For the Decoration
1 jar (12 ounces) roasted red peppers, drained and patted dry
3 1/2 cups hot mashed potatoes
8 cherry tomatoes, stems removed

Directions:
Preparing the Meat Loaf
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a large bowl, combine ground beef, eggs, bread crumbs, green onions, milk, parsley, garlic, Worcestershire sauce, salt and pepper just until blended.

Divide mixture between two 8-inch round cake pans, patting to cover pans evenly and make level.

Decorating the Meat Loaf
Pour off juices from pans. Invert 1 meat loaf onto a flat serving plate. Using a small sharp knife, trim red peppers to that they lie flat. Cover top of meat loaf with a single layer of roasted red peppers.

Invert second meat loaf onto red pepper layer. Using a spatula, spread 2 1/2 cups mashed potatoes over top and sides of meat loaf. Spoon remaining potatoes into a pastry bag fitted with a large star tip. Pipe swirls around top edges of cake. Pipe stars around bottom of cake.

Place cherry tomatoes, stem-ends down, in a ring around top of meat loaf “cake” to resemble cherries. Cut meat loaf into wedges; serve immediately.