The Truth About MeatLoaf, MeatLoaf Formula

~I was so filled with joy at the good news for us today that I felt like making one of my Hubby's favorite dinners. I am one of those people who under stress, or too busy...forget to eat. I even forget my Hubby needs to eat...poor Hubby. Well, I would prepare a good meal for him tonight. See ? ( above ) Meat loaf with acorn squash , home made coleslaw, and mushrooms sauteed in butter. I know, the baked potatoes are missing but I forgot to buy potatoes and did not want to make the trip to town just for potatoes..O.K., just slap me if you're upset I dislike potatoes. Anyway, Hubby said the baked acorn squash with butter and brown sugar was just fine and dandy. But hey, he had chocolate cake with chocolate frosting, REAL homemade butter cream chocolate ( with real butter ) frosting! ~Anyway, there are several things that are true about meat loaf that make it the perfect meat for dinner....

1. Meat loaf can contain ANY type of ground meat, or any combo of ground meats!
2. Meat loaf is a good companion dish to potatoes ( yuck )
3. Meat loaf is the meal that if I tell my Hubby we will be having it for dinner, and something happens that I am unable to actually prepare and serve it for dinner, why...it can pretty much ruin my Hubby's day, because......
4. If he knows we are having meat loaf for dinner he looks forward to dinner ALL day and
5. he believes the best reason of all to have meat loaf for dinner is the meat loaf sandwiches for lunch the NEXT day! ( below)

~Here is the meat loaf recipe I began using before I was married and it is from Redbook Magazine, must have been printed more than 37 years ago...it is actually a FORMULA for meat loaf, so here goes the fail proof recipe for Meat Loaf;

MEAT LOAF FORMULA

1. 2 cups fine soft bread crumbs, or rolled oats, or crackers
2. 2/3 cup finely chopped peeled onion
3. 2 teaspoons salt
4. 1/4 teaspoon pepper
5. 1/2 cup milk, or tomato sauce, or red wine, or ?( liquid )
6. 2 eggs
7. 2 pounds of ground meat in any combination,I have used pork and venison, hamburger and pork, hamburger and turkey...or 2 pounds of just beef...you get the picture. Hey , you could use 2 pounds of rattlesnake and ground rabbit if you want.

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Place bread crumbs, onion, salt and pepper,and liquid in a large bowl. Combine thoroughly. Add the eggs, combine.Break the ground meat up and add to the mixture. Mix thoroughly ( I use my hands for this) Bake in appropriately sized loaf or casserole pans for 1 and 1/2 hours. Pour off excess fat and for easy slicing let sit about 10 minutes before serving.

Although I always use this formula, my meat loaves vary because I vary seasonings, types of bread crumbs,liquids,and sometimes add chopped herbs . So my meat loaves are reliably firm and slice easily, but taste is always slightly different. Keeps things exciting in the kitchen...and that's the truth about meat loaf here at Cedar Pond and I am sticking to this story.