Update:

Here is tonight's loaf. I don't think I need to explain what it is. Do not consider this a political statement, this is simply the meatmorialization of the most iconic photo of 2024.

A couple things to note, the chunk (chuck?) of ear missing on the right ear and I used knock off canes sauce to mimic the unnatural orange glow.

Enjoy!

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I learned several years ago that this thread needed to be a Food board crossover:

Good Afternoon you loveable group of assholes and good tidings all on this most wonderful day of days; the Holiday of the Gods. The one and only Groundhog Day! I think we all know what is coming next.

For the newbies: Every family has those little strange family traditions. Well, today is the day we celebrate ours. Ever since I was a kid, we would celebrate groundhog day over dinner with a groundhog shaped meatloaf. It is a tradition that I have since carried into adulthood. It is a tradition I hope to pass on to my son and daughter. There is no special family recipe. This is more about art than eat. This was the first year that my now 7 year old son wished me a Happy Groundhog day before I mentioned it to him. I had to wipe a single tear from my eye when he did.

This is also the time of year where we pay for our outrageously priced Randazzo king cake to be shipped up to Tennessee. Unfortunately, my son's friends came over and wiped out the leftovers yesterday afternoon, so I had to try my hand at making my own. This is pre iced, roast me?

Enough with that, on to the main attraction! Please amuse yourselves with the gif I've made showcasing the last decade+ worth of groundhogs.

Last year, I decided to go with the most obvious pop culture reference of the moment. I present Travlor Swelce!

I opted to go for the 2-face style of mashup. I chose Kelce in his jersey and helmet and went for Taylor Swift in her Grammys green dress (mainly because I had some spare cabbage). I used mustard and bread crumbs for the blonde hair and please notice the signature red lipstick made of Bell pepper. It's hard to tell, but there is even one meatball boob under the dress. I think this one turned out really well.

With that out of the way, let me describe a few of my favorite mealoafs:

In 2022, I celebrated the life and musical stylings of the (then recently deceased) Bat outta Hell himself. Amuse yourself with my Meatloaf Meatloaf. BBQ sauce soaked bread crumbs for the hair, sharp cheddar for the shirt with shredded cheese for the frills. Pepperoni and bacon for the guitar and a BBQ glaze for the pants.

My second favorite, the Blind Ref groundhog of 2019. Couple things to note. This was in honor of the no call in the Saints/Rams playoff game. First notice the bell pepper flag firmly affixed to his hip. Secondly, the ref shirt is made of string cheese and BBQ sauce as edible black foods are hard to find and not present in your house!

And finally, I present my Magnum Opus, my Mona Lisa, my Meat Masterpiece: Joey Burrhog. I am still extremely proud of this loaf and I DM it to him every year. Hopefully he doesn’t think I’m a murderous stalker. I used provolone cheese for the white, red cabbage for the purple and mustard/bell pepper for the yellow. He is smoking a cinnamon stick cigar and the big dick joe hat is a zucchini piece. This was my first attempt at recreating actual art. I could not be happier with the outcome. I feel the need to put it side by side with the original so the piece can truly be appreciated.

Spoiler alert for tonight's loaf, I will be attempting my hand after designing the presidential bust of 45/47. I intend to meatmorialize him into the groundhog day history books.

Thank you all for reading my Meatloaf thread, and a Happy Groundhog day to you all!