Friday, December 11, 2009

Frosted Meatloaf

We did it! We had our first meal and slept our first night in The New House! It felt sorta strange (and a little lonely, to me at least) to be using all of our familiar plates and sitting in familiar chairs in such an unfamiliar place. Almost like, "What's wrong with this picture? Why am I cooking with this well-loved pan on this so-strange stove?"

Our ice maker isn't working and we still can't find a few important items but all in all, we're happy as clams (how happy is a clam, anyway?) and are lovin' our new abode.

And now, in order to give everyone a break from the posts about the dreadful drudgery of packing, unloading and decorating, here's a recipe for ya!

I'll be back in touch once I've unpacked at least ninety-two more boxes. And not a minute before. (smile)



Frosted Meatloaf

You could really use any meatloaf recipe you wanted for this recipe, but I'll go ahead and give you the one I use.


1 egg
1/3 C ketchup or bar-b-que sauce
1/3 C quick cooking oats
1 1/2 pounds ground beef or turkey.
dash of pepper

1/2 t. salt (I used seasoned salt)

1. Put egg in bowl; stir a little.

2. Add oats, sauce or ketchup, salt and pepper.
2. Mix well.
3. Add ground beef; mix with your hands.
4. Put mixture into an 8x4 inch loaf pan.

Bake one hour and fifteen minutes at 350 degrees.

Remove loaf from pan, put on plate and "frost" with four servings of instant potatoes. (Or you could make "real" potatoes if you're feeling incredibly energetic.) Garnish as desired.


When I made this recently, I started a little late and didn't have an hour and fifteen minutes to let it bake. So I improvised and made three smaller loaves and just baked them on a rack on a cookie sheet. The rack allowed the fat to drain away. Decrease baking time by at least 20-25 minutes. (Check for doneness.)







I frosted just the tops, although when I make the loaf-shaped meatloaf, I usually frost the top and the sides.

I garnished my cute little loaves with some paprika, triangles of cheese, and a little squirt of ketchup.





If you have small kids, you could get really creative and make designs or even faces.


And just a little added Frosted Meatloaf story:

I made this recipe about six months ago. After putting the loaf in the oven to bake, I looked everywhere for my recipe so I could put it back in my recipe box. It has disappeared. Entirely. Completely. Indubitably.


I thought I was losing my mind because I had been holding the recipe in my hands just seconds earlier.


Finally I gave up looking and chalked it up to senility. However, when I took the pan out of the oven, guess what I found? Stuck to the bottom (and rather well done after over an hour of baking) was my missing recipe.


And this is what it looked like.






It was a bit on the dry side but with some ketchup, it wasn't all that bad!

7 Had Something To Say (Just click here!):

Lisa said...

Haha! That's great! The recipe sounds good, too.

I'm glad you guys are settling in and feeling a bit more at home. Before long you've wonder how you felt at home anywhere else, it will be so wonderful!

Hugs,
Lisa

MaryH said...

I love meatloaf! Just like Lisa said, one day you will wonder when your "new" home became the comfortable, familiar, cozy place - it will happen without you noticing and everything will look and feel like it belongs there and no where else. Praying for the house to sell in Smithfield. That is the last piece to the puzzle. What is the weather like in Manteo - we are having a bitter cold spell here in the Midwest! No snow to speak of, but man oh man it is COLD!

Jessica Kramasz said...

The meatloaf looks great! I love the story abou the recipe - it sounds like something I would have done.

Melissa B. said...

What a delicious and different way to prepare an old standby. Thanks so much for sharing! Listen, I also wanted to thank you soooooooo much for stop­ping by on my Spe­cial SITS Day. It’s taken me a while to get back, but I hope to see you around the blo­gos­phere again soon!

The Sun Also Rises

Anonymous said...

I just made meatloaf last weekend...it was my comfort meal weekend. I made meatloaf and homemade mashed potatoes on Saturday and homemade chili in the crockpot on Sunday. I have never tried, or even heard of frosting the meatloaf...I will have to try it. Looks good.

I'm glad you are able to eat and sleep at home now. I know that very soon, you will feel very comfortable there.

((((HUGS))))
Krista
Boise, ID

Tammy said...

Love the garnishing!!! If you are even *more pressed for time...you can do as I do and bake them in muffin tins! They cook in no time and are absolutely adorable! :o)

Anonymous said...

Guess what I had for lunch yesterday... meatloaf!
We have Extended Day on Fridays. so that means we bring a lunch to school. A few years ago I found the recipe for the meatloaf that I loved as a kid. I gave it to Mrs. Guthrie, and she told me on Weds.
that she was going to make Ellie's meatloaf for our lunch. Well, Ellie always served twice baked potatoes with it; so, I said I'd make the potatoes. THAT WAS THE BEST LUNCH EVER. Ellie used Ritz crackers in place of the oatmeal.
PLUS in the morning for our Cooking Snack (which we have once each month) we made "Sing for Christmas Chocolate Sauce", and served it warm over vanilla and/or peppermint ice cream. WHAT A YUMMY DAY!!
mrs pam