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Momentary Thought
After all the time off I've had since the 21st, I'm going to have a *very* hard time getting back into the swing of things at work.
High/Low
High: Everything!
Low: Nothing!
Current Obsession
Buying decorations for our plant shelves, a mirror for the dining room, a painting to go over the living room couch, an area rug for the living room, and lighted neon pictures for around the pool table. Oh, and a bar table and bar stools for the corner of the - what? Pool room? Billiards room? Something.
Grin Source
Calvin and I had the *best* time last night. We went to an underground bar, aptly named "Beeloes", had some drinks (hah. "some". i was elegantly wasted.) and listened to a local jazz/raggae band called "Azz Izz".
Singing
Nothing!
A Year Ago
More or less
Another half-assed attempt at a diet.
Storyteller
Bio
Dramatis Personnae
Who I Read
Recipes
(And just so's ya know, Sherry, I started going through yours a while ago and have been perusing in dribs and drabs - you've been "live" for far longer than I have!)
Anyhoo! She said that I'd mentioned my crock pot recipe for meatloaf three times, and she was only up to November 2000. And I know I've mentioned it about thirty more times after that point, so I guess it's high time I posted the recipe! It's one of the most requested of the household, and makes *killer* sandwiches with the leftovers.
Laura's Soon To Be World-Famous Crockpot Meatloaf
2 eggs, beaten3/4 cup milk
2/3 cup fine dry bread crumbs (I use the Italian Seasoned kind)
2 tablespoons grated onion, or 2 tsp onion powder
1 clove crushed garlic, or 2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon ground sage
1 tablespoon Cholula or Tabasco (optional)
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce (optional)
salt and pepper to taste
1 1/2 to 2 pounds lean ground beef
Sauce
1/4 cup ketchup
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 teaspoon dry mustard
1/4 teaspoon grated nutmeg
Gravy
Meatloaf drippings
1/4 cup corn starch
1 cup milk
1 cup water
1 teaspoon (or cube) beef bouillon, dissolved
In a large bowl, combine eggs, milk, bread crumbs, onion, garlic, sage, Cholula/Tabasco, Worcestershire, salt and pepper. Add 1 1/2 pounds of meat and mix thoroughly (the best part is getting the hamburger under your fingernails - woo!). Gradually add final 1/2 pound of meat until the mixture can be shaped by hand into a loaf (may not require all the meat). Shape into a 9x5-inch rectangle or oval, and carefully place it in the crock pot. Sprinkle additional Worcestershire and/or Cholula/Tabasco over top. Cover and cook on LOW for five to six hours (and really, you can't overcook the thing - it's been in the crock pot for 7 or 8 hours before and turned out just fine).
I've provided instructions for both the sauce and the gravy, to put on top of the meatloaf. My family prefers the gravy, although I love the sauce, too.
Sauce - Combine ketchup, brown sugar, mustard and nutmeg in a small bowl. Pour mixture over meat. Turn control to HIGH. Cover and cook on high for 15 minutes. Slice and serve meatloaf.
Gravy - Remove meatloaf from crockpot. Pour juices and drippings into a saucepan. Put saucepan on stove on high heat. Bring to a boil. Combine water, milk, cornstarch, and bouillon in a bowl or measuring cup. When drippings are boiling, add liquid mixture. Return to a boil and stir until thickened. Add more or less milk/water for desired consistency. Slice and serve meatloaf with gravy.
Alterations/Serving Suggestions:
- Add a packet of onion soup mix to the ground beef mixture in place of onion and garlic.
- Add three or four jalapeno slices (nacho style) to the top of the meatloaf at the beginning of the cooking cycle.
- Top with shredded cheese in the final 15 minutes of the cooking cycle, and cook until cheese is melted.
- Meatloaf Calvin Style - Put a slice of Texas Toast on a plate. Add a slice of meatloaf. Top with mashed potatoes. Top mashed potatoes with a spoonful of canned corn (warmed). Cover all with gravy, salt, pepper, Worcestershire, Cholula, and a dab of Ranch dressing. Groan as you can feel your arteries clogging.
- Killer Meatloaf Sandwich - Prepare two slices of bread by buttering one side of each slice, and putting mayonnaise or Miracle Whip on the other side of each slice. Assemble sandwich such that the buttered sides of the bread are on the *outside*. Fill the sandwich with a thin slice of meatloaf, a spreading of ketchup, a slice of pepper-jack cheese, salt, and pepper. Place the assembled sandwich in a frying pan warmed over medium/high heat, and fry until both sides are golden brown (as in a grilled cheese sandwich).