A traditional mainstay of many  American homes has been Meatloaf. In today’s vernacular this food is referred to as "comfort food."  Hearty and inexpensive, a dinner of meatloaf coupled with side dishes of potatoes and vegetables, is an ideal meal to gather the family around the dinner table.  But like any repast done in bulk quantity, the question arises of what to do with the leftovers.

Now, one suggestion would be to add diced or shredded cooked potatoes, ketchup/or chili sauce, salt and pepper for a breakfast hash.

Additional offering can be made by adding diced cooked potatoes and carrots, sautéed onions and your favorite pie crust to make a baked pasty.

A third dish and one that can meet those super-sized appetites on Superbowl Sunday is a gourmet sandwich.

1. 1.  First toast two slices of bread (unless using a grill).  Although the sandwich pictured at left was made with white bread, marble rye, whole wheat, panini, or artisan bread would be spectacular.

2.  Cut the meatloaf in slices and place between the slices and add a slice or two of your favorite cheese like mozzarella, provolone, or hot pepper jack for those who like it spicey.

3.  Toast either in a panini grill, countertop grill, or toaster oven or in a hurry a microwave until cheese melts usually 2-3 minutes.

4.  Serve with condiments such as mustard, ketchup/catsup, pickles, olive tampenade–let your imagination run wild. 

Although fast and uncomplicated, your tastebuds will experience a truly wonderful sandwich reminiscent of those served at trendy gourmet soup and sandwich bistros.

MDM’S Family MeatLoaf

Dry Ingredients

1.5-2.0 lbs. of Lean Ground Beef

1-2 handfuls of Quick Oats*

½   Onion Diced

½ Green Bell Pepper Diced

1/8 tspn. or smidgen of Nutmeg

¼ tspn. salt (to taste)

¼ tspn. pepper (to taste)

½ Cup of Bread Crumbs, Crushed Corn Flakes, or Crushed Potato Chips for Topping

Wet Ingredients

1-2 Eggs (binder)

¼ stick of margarine or unsalted butter (sauté bell pepper & onion)

¼ Cup of Hot Water

¼-½ Cup of Catsup/Ketchup

Saute diced onion and bell pepper in pan with margarine in a frying pan until the onion is transluscent.

In a bowl, mix thoroughly hamburger, nutmeg, salt and pepper, quick oats, and ketchup/catsup.  Add sautéed diced onions and bell pepper and mix.

In a teakettle heat water until it is boiling.  Add water to ingredients a little at a time making sure that the quick oats have absorbed the liquid.  Do not add too much so that you have any liquid standing–only enough to moisten the quick oats.

Let stand for 15-20 minutes until the mixture is no longer warm.

Then in a small bowl crack and beat egg(s) and add to the mixture.  Remember to make sure that the entire meat mixture is cool or you will end up cooking the egg(s) from the hot water which will result in specks of white albumin throughout the meatloaf.

Put in a glass bread loaf pan or for best results in a meatloaf pan with an inner lining that allows for drainage of the fat from the meatloaf. 

Add crushed bread crumbs, cornflakes, or potato chips to top.

Bake at 325°-350°–depending on your oven–for 1½  to 2 hours.  MDM suggests if using a loaf pan, and not a meatloaf pan, draining the fat during the process by using a baster to take the juice out of corner of the pan.   Test with bamboo skewer or toothpick in the middle of loaf to see if meatloaf is thoroughly cooked.

Remove from oven and top with optional zig-zap application of catsup/ketchup and decorate with green strips of bell pepper forming a branch pattern down the center of meatloaf.  Serve by cutting loaf into 1" inch slices.

* Optional, can substitute bread crumbs for a more compact version.  This recipe minus the green bell pepper makes a great meatball recipe as well.

For best results, use a nonstick, low fat meatloaf pan that you can get at Target   or at Amazon for $11.99 

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