Groundhog Day Meatloaf is both attractive and delicious. The flavor of roasted rosemary and the slight crunch of the toasted almond crust elevate this meatloaf to something special. The olives add just a touch of whimsy, suggesting a groundhog, without being fussy. Served on a bed of spinach and garnished with cherry tomatoes it makes an appealing family-style entrée that is perfect for this unique occasion.

Rosemary and almond crusted Groundhog Day Meatloaf on a bed of spinach leaves with cherry tomatoes served on a rectangular platter.

The End of Winter

By the beginning of February I am eager to welcome Spring. The Witchhazel tree in my yard began blooming over a week ago and bulbs are starting to push up through the dirt. Ice and snow caused school to start late a few times now, enough to satisfy those who delight in winter’s surprises, and the charms of the season are starting to wear thin. I begin to wonder – just how much longer will winter last? It seems like a good time to take stock and do a little forecasting.

And so, a little bored on this midwinter morning, my thoughts turn to the groundhog. Who, I ask you, is better qualified than the groundhog to tell us when winter will end? It seems he has been predicting the time of Spring’s arrival for generations.

But then again, why should we listen to him? While Groundhog Day is noted on my February calendar, I must admit that I know little about the meteorological qualifications of this scruffy rodent. With a light dusting of snow on the ground and my morning meeting cancelled, I took this opportunity to do a background check on our little forecasting friend.

Groundhog Day Background Check

Screening that furry forecaster, I was intrigued by the whimsical details of the Groundhog Day tradition. One thing led to another and I soon had an unlikely sketch of the fellow in question. A few odd points of possible interest are as follows:

It seems Groundhog Day comes from Germany. There it was originally a hedgehog that came out of his burrow to check the weather. This small skittish creature had a habit of peeping from his hole every February 2. If he happened to see his shadow as he emerged he would turn tail and retreat inside for six more weeks of winter. If, instead, it was cloudy and overcast he would come out to an early Spring.

Apparently hedgehog shadows were a relatively reliable method of prognostication. How else do you explain the fact that, when there were no hedgehogs to be found in America, the Germans searched for another creature to take its place? The role of rodent meteorologist was then bestowed on the groundhog, thought by some Native Americans to be the wisest of animals.

Whistlepig and Other Known Aliases

As an interesting etymological aside, the term whistle-pig often makes its way into the groundhog’s bio. As it turns out, WhistlePig is not only a brand of craft whiskey. Whistle pig is also an alias for the groundhog. In fact the groundhog goes by many names: woodchuck, chuck, badger, moonack and land beaver, to name a few.

It is also noted that whistle pigs are vegetarians and are thought by some to be quite tasty to eat. Others, however, recommend caution.

A related thought came from an article in the Daily Mail where I learned that ancient peoples in Great Britain ate hedgehogs as a delicacy. Perhaps that sheds some light on a recipe for “Roast Hedgehog” that has intrigued me ever since I saw it prepared by Clarissa Dickson Wright and Jennifer Paterson in a wonderful old kitchen at a country house in Gloustershire. That is probably my favorite episode of Two Fat Ladies, a wonderful cooking show from the 1990s.

Slices of Groundhog Day Meatloaf are plated to highlight the toasted almond and rosemary crust.

Celebrating Groundhog Day

All of that is very interesting but now I need to decide what’s for dinner. How can I acknowledge this oddly unique occasion with food? While hedgehogs may have been good eating in ancient Britain, and whistle pigs might be tasty too, I don’t know where to get one on short notice. I must also admit that, despite my upbringing, I wouldn’t feel inclined to test that assertion anyway.

Instead, I’ll take my cue from the Two Fat Ladies and make a meatloaf to celebrate Groundhog Day. This recipe uses ground pork (nod to the whistle pig) and ground turkey breast (because it is readily available, high in protein and low in fat) in a recipe adapted from my favorite Betty Crocker’s Cookbook. I shaped my Groundhog Day Meatloaf according to the prompts from the recipe for “Roast Hedgehog” found in Cooking with Two Fat Ladies.

Groundhog Day Meatloaf is both attractive and delicious. I love the flavor of the roasted rosemary and enjoy the slight crunch of the toasted almond crust. The olives add just a touch of whimsy without being fussy. Overall it is a nice nod to the midwinter occasion of Groundhog Day. You might even dine by candlelight, if you dare. Just be careful not to let the groundhog cast a shadow. There’s no need to tempt winter to hang around.

Happy Groundhog Day!