There will be meatloaf

[susandennis]

My Mom was a fabulous cook. She could whip up a gourmet dinner for 12 using only grape jelly, tomato juice and the 4 olives left in the jar. Probably an exaggeration but still, she was good. Really, really good. And she really didn't enjoy it. But she did it and did it well. For years, they lived in places without good restaurants so when Daddy needed to entertain for business, Mom laid out the spread. Over and over again.

And family meals were always spectacular. But, her meatloaf sucked. It was boring and dry. Chef Anita, who, for years, came in and cooked and filled up my freezer every other week, made delicious everything. Her meatloaf was better than my mother's but not as good as mine. I make the best meatloaf in the world. I just never do it.

Today, after my swim, I stopped at the grocery and got the goods and today I'll put them all together and bake and then slice for eating and for freezing. YUM.

Oh and the grocery that took Diet Dr. Pepper off their shelves? They have seen the light and it's back on the shelves now. I didn't really need any but I bought a six pack as a way to say thank you.

My swim was good. I had the pool to myself. A couple of guys came in and used the spa but no one was in the pool. Yesterday it was packed to the gills. Today. Just me.

I've had this increasingly annoying issue with the pool and my mouth. The chemicals in the pool make it feel weird. Yesterday, I picked up some mouth wash and this morning, when I finished my swim, I swizzled some around and while the taste was horrific, now, an hour and half later, it really seems to have mostly fixed the issue so yeah!!

After my shower today I was drying off and noticed a black spot on one of my toes. I tried hard to get it off only to figure out it is a horrible bruise that I have no memory of acquiring. Weird.

I think I'll go ahead and make the meatloaf before I even start sewing...

Comments

[ani-mama.livejournal.com]

You can't just mention that meatloaf and not share the recipe!

We do not live in an area with good restaurants now...there is nothing available locally except deli sandwiches, burgers and pizza. I have learned to cook as a survival skill.

[susandennis]

Oh, I meant to outline it. Thanks!

All ingredients are 'ish' and it varies depending on what's on hand and/or needs to be gotten rid of or was on sale, but today...

1 lb ground breakfast sausage
1.25 lb ground beef
about a cup of TJ's chopped up onion/celery/carrot mix
about a cup of oatmeal
2 eggs
some ketchup (I need to polish off the bottle in the fridge)
a little (like maybe teaspoon) minced garlic

And then a package of McCormick's meatloaf seasoning

I'm also feeling a little spicy these days and so there might be a splash of sirarcha added :)

Mix it all up and into a greased meatloaf pan - 350 for an hour (the last 20 minutes of so will be torture because that heavenly meatloaf smell will fill the house)

[ani-mama.livejournal.com]

Ooh, this sounds good! Thanks, I am going to pick up a packet of the seasoning mix next time at the store.

[kayre]

If you happen to like the end slices, you can bake mini loafs in muffin tins; they bake faster and won't heat up the house as much, too.

[susandennis]

I have never tried that but Anita used to make her meatloaf into fat hamburger patties for the same reason. I just prefer the original loaf - esp for the soon-to-come meatloaf sandwiches. And right on the house heat up. This will likely be my last meatloaf until September.

[nanila]

I was going to ask for the recipe too, as soon as I finished reading the original post. :D Thanks!

[zippybeta.livejournal.com]

! cup oatmeal, is that cooked or rolled oats
recipe sound good Im gonna try it.

[susandennis]

I used instant oatmeal (cereal) as a matter of fact because that's all I had. As long as it will absorb liquid and kind of disappear it will work. I like it better than breadcrumbs which is what most people use.

[rejectomorph]

My mom also made a mediocre meatloaf. My dad didn't like it either, and after he retired he took over the meatloaf making and it was great. He would put short strips of bacon on top of it and baste it with tomato sauce so the bacon wouldn't burn. I've tried to duplicate his meatloaf, but only manage to duplicate my mom's. I'm able to duplicate his baked macaroni and cheese (which was also better than mom's) but never that tasty meatloaf.

[susandennis]

ohhhh bacon on top is genius!

[meowmensteen]

I make meatloaf about once a week. I'm like you, I like to use beef and sausage. After one glorious dinner, I use the rest to make Jeremiah sandwiches to take to work. His co-workers always tease him, but they're secretly jealous.

[susandennis]

I ended up with two loaves. I'm thinking the rest of the one from dinner tonight will be frozen for dinners on other nights. The second loaf is totally reserved for meatloaf sandwiches. There is really nothing better. Why in the heck don't I do this more often???

[meowmensteen]

Forethought maybe? haha

[mac-arthur-park.livejournal.com]

I've been wanting meatloaf for weeks. I guess I'll have to give in and buy the stuff if I make it to the grocery store tomorrow.

[susandennis]

It's a meatloaf chain!