Bad Rep

I'm here today to talk about a very controversial topic. MEATLOAF.



Meatloaf has had a bad reputation for decades, and I'm not sure why. Was it the weird singer from the 80s? Is it the thought of a block of meat that turned people off? What IS IT!? Drew mentioned something about meatloaf to our church group the other day and you would have thought we were suggesting they eat worms or something.



While not all meatloafs are created equal, I'm here to tell you that meatloaf is not as terrible as one may think. In fact, it's pretty damn good. Especially mine. I invite anyone over to try it and tell me they still hate it. If you like hamburgers, then you'll like meatloaf.



I have included pictures and my mother's recipe (which I now use and have always loved) for you to try at home.

Combine a pound of ground beef and a pound of ground turkey in a bowl. (We use half turkey to be healthier).
Chop up an onion.

Pour aforementioned onion in bowl.

Add a can of tomato sauce.

Add 2 cups of oatmeal to give it some texture.

You will then also add 1.5 teaspoons of salt and a 1/2 teaspoon of pepper, as well as 2 eggs to really bind it.

You will then take your dinosaur-looking CLEAN hands and start mixing all of the ingredients together! It's the only way to do it.

You will then seperate the mixture into two...sections of equal size. This is where it looks like something people won't want to eat. But WAIT! There's more.

You then flatten out your mound on fol or waxed paper, and pat our a rectangle about 1/2 inch thick by 8 inches by 15 inches.

The directions then claim that you need to sprinkle 1 cup of cheddar cheese on the rectangle, but I always put more. Which is what makes it great. Try to leave a little bit of a border.

From the narrow end, you will then roll it up jelly-roll style, using the foil to help you roll it. Or your husband if he's around.

You seal "seams" on the sides/ends, and place it in a foil-lined loaf pan, or one sprayed with cooking spray. Gently pat it out to fill the pan. (I usually make two at a time to freeze for another night. Or to make right then for lunches.)

You then pour a combo of canned tomato sauce and ketchup over each loaf and spread it out to cover them.

You will then bake each meatloaf for 1 to 1.25 hours at 350 degrees (the long baking time is the only annoying part) and take out and let cool for 5-10 minutes. Then you'll slice into it and devour the cheesy oniony tomatoey goodness that is Jane's Meatloaf.

Though these aren't perfect slices, hopefully this looks like something you want to eat. I know I do. And if you don't then don't even tell me.

Voila! Now you too can make a delicious meatloaf and prove everyone else, maybe even yourselves, wrong. Wahoooooo.