Sunday, September 12, 2010

Recipes for the Mama Writer!!

Happy 'Moan'day!! Hope your weekend was awesome!

I've been knee-deep in kids' school schedules AND any spare moment away from that form of craziness, I've been working on my MS. That's why most of last week I was MIA. *sigh* Some days I wish there were two of me!!

Instead of not posting, I figured I would put some RECIPES FOR THE MAMA WRITER. The great thing is you don't really have to be a 'mama' to reap the benefits!! I'm always game to learn fast and easy recipes. I'll be posting either a dish or a cooking tip once a week along with my Friday interviews. At least you'll know I'm still here, still chugging away at the dream! :)

This week's recipe is for a classic crowd pleaser. Please enjoy . . .

EASY-PEASEY MEAT LOAF!


Meat loaf is a meal that can easily be made earlier in the day or the night before. When it's time to slap it in the oven, the dishes are all ready done and you're eating in less than an hour!

Here is the version I make (which has been kid and hubby tested and approved!)


1 1/2lb Ground Beef
1/2 cup Ketchup
1/3 cup Tomato Juice (I sub one can of tomato sauce)
1/2 teaspoon salt and pepper
(I add: couple dashes of Garlic Powder)
3/4 cup Bread crumbs (sometimes I use oatmeal instead)
1/4 cup Onion, chopped
2 teaspoon Prepared Mustard
(I also add: one envelope Lipton's Onion Soup Mix; a healthy dollop or two of my fav BBQ sauce; a dash of Worcestershire Sauce.)

Topping:

1/4 cup Ketchup
1/2 Teaspoon Prepared Mustard
2 teaspoon Brown Sugar
(I add: a dash or two of Worcestershire Sauce)

**I've found it necessary to double the topping recipe, so there is plenty of sauce to go around.


Directions:

1) Preheat oven 400*F

2) Mix all ingredients. Put in dish (I grease w/ PAM= easy clean up!). Shape meat mixture like a log.

3) Make topping and pour over meat loaf.

BAKE: 35-45min or until temps 160*F (I use a thermometer.)



When cooking this dish, I'll pair it with mashed potatoes, stuffing, or rice pilaf. For a veggie, usually I opted for corn or a peas and carrots mix.

If you have the time, extra meat, and space in your freezer: Make a second loaf and freeze it!! I do everything but make the sauce when freezing it. You can take the frozen meat loaf out and let it thaw in the refrigerator. I'll be making one or two to put away for when the baby comes! I'm all about making life easy!!

Hope your taste buds fall in love!! Enjoy!

6 comments:

Rebecca J Vickery said...

Hi Sarah,
You are really dishing it up!!! We all love meatloaf and this one has a few differences to my usual. Can't wait to try it. Sorry I've been MIA lately but I do pop over and read even when I don't take time to comment so know you are loved!
Sounds like you are a super busy woman just now. Keep writing and we really need a catch up on our news day, soon!
Becca

Cheryl Pierson said...

Sarah,
This sounds a LOT like the meatloaf recipe my mom handed down to the three of us girls! It is a wonderful recipe, and hers came from the back of a Quaker Oats box. You can use crushed saltines in place of the oats/bread crumbs and it tastes yummy. My husband had never had it before we got married and he LOVES it. I forget about it sometimes, though! LOL I'll go weeks without making it and then he'll go, "Hey, why don't we have meatloaf?" LOL
Cheryl

Anonymous said...

Sounds simply wonderful. I've got to be more creative and inventive in the kitchen. Thanks for the recipe.

Cari Quinn said...

Sounds yummy, Sarah! Love a good meatloaf and looking forward to your other recipes. Hope you and the baby are doing well! (And your other kiddos and hubby too!)

Kaily Hart said...

Yeah, it should be quieter now with the kids back at school but all the schedule stuff is still chaotic. Hope you're carving out the time to write. Almost time to sign up for GH, can you believe it? I need to get my butt into gear on that one :)

Abigail-Madison Chase said...

The looks delicious I am adding the recipe to my book now!