in praise of meatloaf

[MissMillie]

I made some mini-meatloaf over the weekend, and froze most of them for consumption at a later date. But I brought one in for lunch today. Last night I cooked up some mashed potatoes to go with it.

I once saw on Throwdown w/ Bobby Flay that if you cook up whatever veggies you're going to put in (in my case it was onions, mushrooms, celery and garlic) before adding it to the meat mixture, it makes the meatloaf more moist. That turned out to be true.

I don't put any tomato substances on my meatloaf. As much as I like tomatoes, I'd rather have a strip of crispy bacon around my meatloaf, or a surprise cheesy center, or just a really good mushroom gravy. And you know, sometimes, less is more.

Anyway... here's to meatloaf. Whether you have it w/ ketchup, or barbeque sauce, or gravy, or bacon, or cheese... mashed potatoes or scalloped potatoes....

(oh. and let's not forget the classic meatloaf sandwich--YUMMY!!!!!)

[HuskerDU]

1. Paradise by the Oven Door Light!

That looks VERY good! Now I'm hungry.

Bacon goes with everything.

[DarkTirade]

2. Yeah, I kinda liked him in Rocky Horror, but I'm not a big fan of his music.

:)

[skygazer]

3. My mom made the worst meatloaf on the planet

It was like eating the passenger side door of a '57 Chevy. Horrible. My mom was a marvelous woman and a lousy cook - though there were some things she made that were to die for.

I had no idea meatloaf could be a delicious thing until I made it myself, trying to stretch a dollar. I make a mean meatloaf.

Here's to meatloaf indeed. :toast: And to my mom, what the hell. :toast:

[1gobluedem]

4. Our family recipe for meatloaf is superb

Although it does have tomato products in it. The secret is the pork sausage which keeps it from drying out.

It's been immortalized in a novel a friend has written, that's coming out at the end of the month.

Mmmm....I want meatloaf now. Meatloaf weather isn't far away!

[TommyO]

5. This thread is useless without the recipe!

Please, please, pretty please!

[MissMillie]

6. sure

in a skillet I cooked 1.5 medium onions (chopped), 1/3 pkg. of white mushrooms (sliced), 1 stalk of celery (finely chopped) and 4 cloves of garlic (finely chopped or minced) in some olive oil. I didn't "brown" the veggies, but rather did a light sautee to bring out the moisture in them. Once cooked, I added 1 tsp. ground sage, 3 tbsp. of chopped parsley, 1.5 tsp. kosher salt and 1 tsp. ground pepper.

I added this mixture to:

1.5 lbs. of ground beef (I used 93% lean)
1 egg
1/2 cup bread crumbs (I used plain)
3 oz. water

and I mixed it well (I wash my hands and use them to mix.... get a much better mix than you do with a spoon)

then I divided this up into mini-loaves... I think it made 5 of them and cooked it in a 350 degree oven for about 30 minutes.



I recommend wrapping the loaves w/ bacon, if you like.

or making a mushroom gravy to go with this.

[av8rdave]

7. He's Ok...I did get tired of hearing "Two out of Three ain't Bad" though

[SoxFan]

8. It's all about the olives!

My mom is a fantastic cook (I know, something of an oddity for an Irish chick, right?), and she uses chopped green olives in her meatloaf recipe. It makes all the difference in the world!

[Left Is Write]

9. Oh, yum! I'm coming over to eat meat loaf at your house.

[MissMillie]

10. sure!

what veggie would you like served w/that?

[Left Is Write]

11. I'm partial to green beans, broccoli, carrots, asparagus, and peas...

but I'm sure whatever you choose will be great.

[MissMillie]

13. fresh green beans it is

I like all green veggies, but I haven't had green beans in a while.

[madinmaryland]

12. I tend to lean towards his

"bat out of hell" album!



:hi:

[Kali]

14. leftover, cold, sliced about 1/2 inch thick, with ketchup, on fresh white bread