DP wants us to teach something we really know. Hmm, so much, so much to choose from… Oddly, my recipe for meatloaf came to mind. I say, “Oddly,” because when I married, I married into a family that prized cooking above just about any other skills, except they were very fond of being able to sew, both the men and women. But the talk that revolved around food was a constant.
In my family, my mother kept things pretty simple. So simple in fact that my husband said I had 10 recipes and they all began with the same five ingredients. Well, you get good at it apparently. The one meal I made that his family raved over and ate every morsel, asking for seconds and thirds was my meatloaf, mash potatoes and gravy, served with a toss green salad. I was completely stunned and taken aback by their reaction. Who knew meatloaf was a favorite of people? I always considered it a meal you ate when you were broke. Perhaps it has something to do with being a comfort food.
The biggest difference between my meatloaf and others is there is no filler. By filler, I mean bread crumbs, crackers, oatmeal, whatever (pronounced “Whatevah” and throw your hand out as you say it). This would have been considered a sin in my family to add anything like that to meatloaf. So, here you go:
1 lb. ground beef (hamburger – 85%, 15% fat or however they rate it these days – you need a bit of fat for flavor)
one onion – chopped
one green bell pepper – chopped
2 eggs
1 16 oz can of Hunts Tomato Sauce
In a big bowl, combine the hamburger, the chopped onion and green pepper and break the two eggs and toss the yolk and egg whites straight into the bowl (throw out the shells). Plunge your hands into that bowl and knead the contents until evenly distributed. Pat it into shape, plunk it into an oven-safe dish with some high sides – high being enough to hold the can of Hunts Tomato sauce without it spilling over. Pour the Hunts Tomato Sauce over the top. Put it in the oven at 325 or 350 degrees and check it in 45 minutes. Depending on your oven, it might take an hour. You can fuss with it by ladling the sauce over the top every 15 minutes, but if you just leave it alone, no harm no foul. Take it out of the oven and let it sit while finishing up the mash potatoes and salad. Your gravy is the hot tomato sauce poured over slices of the meatloaf and mash potatoes.
Re the mash potatoes: I used to make mine from scratch until I discovered the tubs of mash potatoes located in the meat or dairy section of your market. Takes about 10 minutes to heat ‘em up in the microwave for perfect mash potatoes and you can choose whether you want regular or garlic. I am a regular mash potatoes creature.
There you go. A guaranteed hit, provided you like meatloaf. Makes great sandwiches if anything is left.
Filed under: Commentary - Modern Times Tagged: daily prompt, green salad, mash potatoes, meatloaf
