Recipe The Wonders of Meatloaf

Meatloaf was something I despised as a child. Didn't dig the texture or flavor. Or the fact it was meat in loaf form. As I got older I somewhat forgot about it. It was never on the menu at any restaurants I worked at or went to. Now it's one of my staple meals. At work and at home. It's versatile, simple, and yummy. If done right.

At home in my kitchen one day I was broke-ish, bored, and hungry. I had a pound of ground beef and a random assortment of ingredients that at the time didn't make sense to me. Then I got to thinking that maybe I could make a meatloaf that I would actually want to eat. Something that wouldn't taste like the greasy ground shoe leather drown in ketchup that my mom used to serve. And don't tell her I said that. She's a good cook but... Not meatloaf.

I did some research online and in my library of cook books. Stole ideas from other dishes and preparations. I started thinking way outside the box. Wanting to bring meatloaf to a new level. I even thought about a deconstructed meatloaf that in retrospect was a hamburger. Nothing seemed to work. This went on for like three weeks mind you. I don't know how much meat and crap I went through. How many friends had to suffer through odd misshapen food and I couldn't get it right.

As a last ditch effort I went back to the old school ways of meatloaf and it worked. If done right, with the right about of moisture and the right flavor meatloaf can be better then a $40 steak. The best thing in that you can add pretty much whatever you want to a meatloaf. Make it Italian, Spanish, French, or even Chinese. Mix up your meats too. As long as it can be ground it can be turned into a loaf. But please for the love of god don't make fishloaf. That's just fucking gross.

So... what's your best meatloaf recipes?

 

I actually have always loved meatloaf. My mom made a great meatloaf, and I still basically use her recipe, such as it is-- all the following measurements are rough estimates, as I was taught to cook it by example, and she never used written recipes.

2 1/2 lbs lean ground beef
1/2 cup grated carrot (I usually buzz some carrots in the food processor until they're finely ground)
1/4 cup grated celery (optional, but if used, toss in the food processor with the carrots)
1 medium-large sweet yellow onion, grated fine (again, food processor)
1/3-1/2 cup cornflake crumbs (breadcrumbs will do in a pinch)
3-4 cloves garlic, minced fine (I toss them into the food processor with the onion)
2 extra large eggs, beaten
1/2 tsp salt
1-2 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp paprika
1-2 tsp poultry seasoning
1 tsp dried parsley
1 tsp olive oil
2 tsp worcestershire sauce
1/2 tsp tabasco sauce (optional, but I usually like it)

Preheat oven to 350. Combine these ingredients in a mixing bowl, and then pack into a 9x13 baking dish (can also be made in a deep-dish pie pan) which has been sprayed with nonstick cooking spray.

Now here's the clincher:

In a large prep bowl, combine the following:

1/3 cup ketchup
1/4 cup mustard (when I was a kid, my mom used French's Yellow, but today I usually use dijon)
1 tsp worcestershire sauce
1 tsp tomato paste
1 tbsp dry red wine
3-4 tbsp dark brown sugar (depending on how sweet you like)
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/8 tsp white pepper
1/4 tsp smoked paprika

Mix well, and then, using a spatula or spoon, frost the meatloaf with this mixture as though frosting a cake.

Bake at 350 for 45-60 minutes, depending on how "done" you like your meatloaf. I usually serve this with roasted garlic smashed potatoes, steamed asparagus, and well-roasted brussels sprouts (baby/petite brussels sprouts in a sprayed baking dish, drizzle with olive oil and a pinch of sea salt, into the oven at 350 for 1-1 1/2 hours- should be crispy and charred outside, soft and buttery inside).

This is probably Mrs. Levite's favorite comfort food dinner.

 

I went 20 years without eating meat loaf, from the time I left home until last year.
Went to a friend's house for dinner. It must have been almost exactly a year ago because we had butternut squash as a side.
She made a hell of a loaf. I really enjoyed it as did my family.
Thanks for the recipe levite.

 

I hated it until I moved to my moms house in Ohio... and then I loved it....

 

Depends on the fish, SMK. Mackerel is gross... to the extreme. However, my mother used to make a salmon loaf that was a real treat!

 

I love meatloaf. I especially love it as a leftover in a meatloaf sandwich (toasted bread around a slice of meatloaf... are you kidding me?!).

Here's my problem. Meatloaf is supposed to be a cheap and easy meal. The price of ground beef is very high in this part of the world. I just haven't been able to stomach paying so much for ground beef. I think it's time I changed that...

One more thing... Apparently, the Germans' idea of a meat loaf (maybe Swiss or Viennese?) is a loaf of meat but it's ground to the consistency of a paste. The end result is a loaf of meat that resembles the consistency of a hot dog. I know this because I order one once and didn't realize what it was until I popped it out of it's tin. Ugh. Disappointment. It's why I now ask, when I see meatloaf on a list of sandwiches, what kind of meatloaf it is.

 

Disappointment? Why? I love that style of meatloaf. It's not the same but it mos defiantly has it's place on the table.

 

I'm so making this on Saturday.

 

My wife uses oatmeal in place of the breadcrumbs, it gives it a great consistency, and it works great when certain neighbors are over since one kid can't eat wheat.

 

I can proudly declare to have never cooked or eaten meatloaf in my entire life.

This looks mighty delicious though:

 

This is the one I made last night. I never seems to get a pic after it's cooked.

 

I mostly use wheat bran rather than breadcrumps these days. My mother is generally a better cook than I am, but her meatloaf is very dry and doesn't look very appealing. I prefer my meatloaf more sloppy.

I agree the best thing about meat loaf is, you can add what you have, and it tastes a bit different each time. Cheese or tomato too in addition to food stuff mentioned in earlier posts.

In fact, I made meatloaf steaks (same recipe) this afternoon to go with hamburgers.

 

Disappointment because I wanted the other style. I had visions of meatloaf dancing in my head and this large hot dog was not what I wanted.

 

This is the first thing I thought of when I saw the thread title:


/runs for thread exit...

 

BACON!!! I think I could just about eat anything wrapped in bacon.

 

I think I'm in love

 

"I can proudly declare to have never cooked or eaten meatloaf in my entire life." is an arrogant statement.

Meatloaf can taste delicious and be healthy. It's as good as the ingredients and the cook can make it.

The pic makes me hungry.

 

That's what she said.

 

Really? I mean, I understand by now that people have difficulty getting my half-hearted remarks, but you'd think a statement like the one I made above is pretty obvious.

I wouldn't know, I've never had or read about it. Thanks for sharing, though.

Same here, brother.