Comfort Food :: Meatloaf

Meatloaf must be the least sexy sounding entree.  But ya know what, it can be sooo satisfying on a cold winter night!

Recently we "rediscovered" meatloaf after an initial, "hmm I don't know, it sounds so old-fashioned."  To make it a bit more healthy we modified the recipe a tad.  We use oatmeal instead of breadcrumbs which gives it a much better texture and flavor in addition to the health advantage that oatmeal has over breadcrumbs.  Then we use a combo of crushed tomatoes and milk (however you can use just milk if you don't have crushed tomatoes on hand).  And finally, we add minced red bell peppers as they add a nice bit of flavor and are a good source of Vitamin C and A.

If you haven't tried meatloaf lately, give it a try!  It really is comforting for a January Sunday evening.

Meatloaf

Serves 6 to 8

1 1/2 lbs of ground beef or pork
3/4 cup oatmeal
2 eggs
1/4 c finely chopped onions
1/4 c finely chopped red bell pepper (optional)
1/2 c milk
1/2 c crushed tomato
pinch of salt
a couple of twist of freshly ground pepper

Mix all the ingredients together. Pour into an 8x8 baking pan. 

Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

Stir the ingredients for the topping together in a small bowl:
1/2 c ketchup
1/2 c brown sugar
1/2 tsp dry mustard

Poke the top of the meatloaf lightly with a fork.  Then spread the topping across the top of the meatloaf.

Bake for another 30 minutes at 350 degrees.  Cool for a few minutes before serving.

Enjoy!

~ Tara

Comments

[Emily]

I'm so happy to have found you through EAD! My husband and I catalog our cooking adventures at http://theculinarycouple.com. Looking forward to sharing recipes and stories!

[Rose]

I love meatloaf! Shamelessly! It's a great source of protein and a good way to tuck in extra veggies minced inside :)