Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Go To Meals: Meatloaf

This is another of my mother's recipes that I remember from my childhood. A perennial favorite of mine, and now my family. (Yes, my entire family loves it. How do I know? They request it for their birthday dinner!) I think she got it from the Better Homes and Gardens red and white cookbook. Last week Liz asked me for my recipe.... Uh, better late than never?

Meatloaf

1-1 1/2 lb. ground beef
3/4 cup oats
1 egg
1/4-1/2 onion, chopped
1 can tomato sauce

Mix together well in a large bowl; your bare hands work best. Form into loaf, top with a thin coating of ketchup. Bake in flat pyrex, (not a loaf pan,) at 350 for 1 hour or a little longer.


My modifications:
  • I typically use about 2 lbs of meat, often using 1/2 ground beef and 1/2 turkey. If you do this, make 2 loaves, as seen above. Use your 9x13 pan, too! My husband loves meatloaf sandwiches and my kids love the leftovers. These are the only leftovers that always get eaten around here.
  • My family also loves onions so I coarsely chop them. If you're trying to hide them just chop smaller. 
  • If you're increasing the meat also remember to increase the other ingredients. 
  • I have needed a substitute for the tomato sauce in the past and have tried the following with excellent results: Hand crushed fresh tomatoes from our garden (diced then squished really, really good,) or a can of diced tomatoes with some of the juice drained then whirrled in the blender.) When you use a substitution like this watch your ounces! A small can of tomato sauce is 6 ounces. If you're using 2 lb. of meat, use about 8-10oz of sauce/tomatoes. Too much and the loaves will not form/bake correctly. If you're going to err on this one, err on the side of caution. I've never had it be too dry if you're using all of the ingredients.
  • Bake time for me, near sea level with 2 loaves is right at an hour and a half. I always cut through the middle to make sure they are done. (See above!)
  • I ALWAYS serve this meal with mashed potatoes and green beans. Meatloaf just isn't the same without them!
Enjoy!
Headless Mom

8 comments:

Sidney said...

Wow. Meatloaf for birthdays? UR doing something right.

I'm not a meatloaf gal, but you make this look so easy, I may have to whip this up before my man leaves for San Diego again.

Thanks for sharing this!

Stimey said...

I'm printing this out right now!

Diana said...

Now I'm hungry for fall/winter meals.

I have never put the tomato sauce in the meatloaf before. Our family recipe calls for ketchup on top. I've since switched it to BBQ and cheddar cheese on top. I may have to try this recipe though.

Debby@Just Breathe said...

My family loves meat loaf too and requests it for birthdays. I do mashed potatoes with corn because they love to put their corn in the potatoes! Sounds yummy.

Anonymous said...

Actually, the recipe came from the Quaker Oats box. I always thought I must be a not-so-good cook, because you and your brother always said meatloaf, mashed potatoes, and green beans were your favorite meal. Oh well, family traditions continue.
Mom

Liz@thisfullhouse said...

YAY!!! It is NEVER too late for meat loaf and my kids and I thank you, very much, my friend :)

Vixen said...

I have my mom's meatloaf recipe and I LOVE it. My kid's never acquired a love of it like I do. Now that they are almost all gone, I am going to make it all the time.

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