[CH] not your mother's meatloaf...

bill jernigan (knoxbill@comcast.net)
Sun, 15 May 2005 15:49:57 -0400 

made a meatloaf today that turned out very good...jim, 
here's one for the book...

have always been frustrated by the *shape* of my 
meatloaf...i put it in the oven all squared off, a perfect 
loaf for sandwiches, and it comes out looking like a 
mound...if i do it in a loaf pan, when i turn it out, it 
cracks and breaks...so i decided to try putting it in a loaf 
pan, but cooking it upside down, so the pan acts as a 
mold...then the pan comes off to brown the top 
(bottom?)...the result is a well formed loaf that is 
delicious, and will fill many a sandwich in weeks to come...

and yeah, it makes a lot, but when i'm making something like 
this, it's no more effort to make a bunch and freeze it for 
future times that i don't feel like cooking something...and 
this freezes well...

2 lbs ground beef (20%)
1 Pound chorizo
3/4 Cup instant or quick cooking oatmeal
3 eggs, beaten
1/2 Cup milk
1/2 Cup tomato juice (or tomato sauce)
1 Medium onion, minced
6 Serrano chiles, minced
3-4 cloves minced garlic
1 Teaspoon apple-smoked Red Savina powder (to taste)
1 Tablespoon worcestershire sauce
salt and pepper

A continuing effort to make the perfect meatloaf.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Chop onion and serranos in food processor, using start/stop 
action until chopped fine.

Mix oatmeal and eggs.  Blend in the milk, tomato sauce (or 
juice), onion, worcestershire sauce and seasonings.  Let 
stand for ten minutes.  Add meat and mix well.

Pack firmly into two loaf pans.  Turn upside down on foil 
lined cookie sheet, leave pans in place.

Bake for 1 hour.  Remove pans, return to oven for additional 
1/2 hour.  If not brown enough, put under broiler for a 
couple minutes.

Let stand for 10 minutes before slicing.

Options:

Substitute one or two pounds of ground turkey for part of 
all of the beef.

Use a pound of breakfast sausage in place of chorizo.

Add:  chopped green pepper, new mex chiles, shredded 
cheddar, etc.

Or, stuff with mushrooms, grilled onions, etc.

-- 

knoxbill   [note:  new email address]

"You ain't learnin' nothin' when you're talkin'."
                   -Lyndon B. Johnson