John Chatham - The Ultimate Meatloaf Cookbook

M ost of us dont think of meatloaf as a gourmet dish, but rather as a comfort food that reminds us of our childhoods. It was an inexpensive way for harried moms to fill grumbling tummies, but many of our moms just didnt have the time or knowledge to make a great meatloaf. They often just threw together some ground beef, a few breadcrumbs, an egg, and, if we were lucky, some chopped onion to add a little flavor. They mashed it together, squirted some ketchup on top, threw it in the oven, baked it until it was gray and as hard as a rock, and called it dinner. They may have served it with equally bland mashed potatoes and, perhaps, canned green peas or string beans.

Its a shame that so much good ground meat was treated so shabbily. But it didnt have to be that way.

It is so simple to make a meatloaf that is amazingly delicious. It takes just a little more time and attention to flavors for meatloaf to be a real dinnertime treat that will tickle even the most sophisticated gourmet palate. With the right ingredients, you can assemble a loaf that will please even the pickiest of eaters. The long baking time ensures that the house will be filled with the mouthwatering aroma of slowly cooking ground meat, surrounded by bubbling juices, teasing your familys taste buds and filling them with anticipation of the delicious dinner to come.

Who wouldnt love a heaping mound of ground beef, pork, or lamb, teeming with onions, peppers, garlic, herbs, and spices with melted cheese crusty and golden on top and oozing from the center? Or perhaps a mountain of turkey packed with delicious herbed bread stuffing, topped with a shimmering ruby red cranberry glaze?

A great meatloaf can be made from as few as four or five ingredients. The basic ingredients for most meatloaves are a pound or two of good ground meat; a binder such as bread crumbs, oatmeal, or bread cubes soaked in milk or cream; one or two eggs; some aromatic vegetables such as onions, celery, and carrots; and some herbs and spices.

From there, its up to you. Let your imagination go wild. Mix in some vegetables or even some fruit, and top it off with a glistening glaze or hearty gravy. If youre in a hurry, just mix in a prepackaged spice or herb mix or even a can of flavorful, creamy soup.

You can even make a delicious, easy meatloaf for breakfast or brunch with some ground ham or corned beef. Just add a glass of juice or milk and youll start your day off with a meal that is both tasty and healthful.

In fact, you dont even need meat to make a wonderful loaf. An outstanding vegetarian or vegan loaf can be made with veggies, rice, tofu, or even fruit.

With a little thought and creativity, you could satisfy your hungry family and yourself with a different meatloaf every day for months!

Here are 100 different recipes for meatloaf to get you started. After that, use your imagination, and just sit back and wait for the praise and kudos from your thankful family to start rolling in!

Chapter 1

Grandma Bettys Sunday Supper Meatloaf

Grandma Betty insisted on using beef in her delicious Sunday meatloaf, but you can easily substitute ground pork or turkey for all or part of the meat.

• 2 pounds ground beef
• 1/4 cup crushed corn flakes
• 1 package onion soup mix
• 1/3 cup ketchup
• 1 egg
• 1 can tomato sauce
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a loaf pan with non-stick spray.

In a large mixing bowl, combine beef, corn flakes, soup mix, ketchup, egg, salt, and pepper, and mix until well blended. Form into a loaf and place in loaf pan.

Bake for 1 hour or until internal temperature reaches 165 degrees.

Bubbes Kosher Meatloaf

Check the eggs to make sure there are no blood spots; if there are, they are treif, not kosher.

• 2 pounds kosher hamburger
• 2 eggs, lightly beaten
• 1 cup crushed matzo
• 1/2 cup minced onion
• 1 clove garlic, crushed
• 3 tablespoons dried parsley flakes
• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1/4 cup ketchup
• 1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a large mixing bowl, combine meat, eggs, matzo , onion, garlic, parsley, Worcestershire, paprika, salt, and pepper and mix until well blended. Form into a loaf and place in loaf pan or on baking sheet.

In a small bowl, mix ketchup, brown sugar, honey, and vinegar. Brush or spoon ketchup mixture over loaf.