It's a Loaf that's Meat

When it rains in Arizona, people go crazy.  They drive horribly, act like the sky is literally falling and post like there is no tomorrow on Facebook.  I'm not one of those people.  I will rarely mention the weather because we can all see what is outside our window, but today was gorgeous.  I got to leave the front door open!!.  I love not feeling so disconnected from the outside world.  The summer completely annihilates any chance of being outside for more than 1 second, unless you absolutely have to.

But enough about that.  I had great music playing while I cooked last night.  This playlist is brought to you by the letter M, as in Mmmm Mmmm Mmmm good.

Queens of the Stone Age - Little Sister

Mummford & Sons - Little Lion Man

Stereophonics - Dakota

I was so happy cooking and singing away.  I usually reserve singing for the car, but I was enjoying myself.  I'm sure not everyone within ear shot was as thrilled as I was with my vocal talents, but if I can make Mike 2 kids he can listen to me sing once in a while.

Now, last time meatloaf was made in my house it didn't go according to plan.  I had everything prepared and ready to go.  All one had to do was turn the oven to bake at 350 degrees F, cook the meatloaf and make mashed potatoes (the potatoes were chopped and waiting).  I had gone to a meeting and wasn't home to intervene, but the story goes...the oven got set to broil.  So after an hour of cooking the top was really overdone and the middle was still raw.  The loaf was then baked until cooked through.  I came home craving one of my favorite dinners.  I took a bite and immediately asked what happened to my foolproof plan.  Oh well.  Last night I was home and everything went swimmingly.

Oh!  On a totally unrelated note, my mom says she's going to give her self a time out from Pinterest.  She meant to open an email I had sent her, but opened Pinterest first...I think we all know what happened from there.  I wish her the best of luck.  Lord knows I don't have that kind of self control. 

This meal is all about easy.  Easy to find ingredients, easy to make, set it and forget it, and an easy side to boot...easy easy easy.

We had loaded baked potatoes too. I didn't bake them. I'm lazy. I probably could have since the oven was already on for the meatloaf. Oh well. Rinse your potatoes, poke them a few times on each side with a fork (so they don't explode) and wrap them in a damp paper towel. Nuke for 6 minutes, flip them over, and cook for another 6 minutes. Tah dah! How easy was that?

The topping is really easy, but gives some needed flavor contrast.  Truth be told, I hate yellow mustard.  I avoid it at all costs.  I don't mind honey mustard or even Dijon (in small amounts), but regular mustard BLEH!!  This is the only time I will ever condone mustard use.  It gives to sauce acidity and vinegar...and I use enough brown sugar to get rid of the actual mustard taste.  Ha!!

Meatloaf

Adapted from Better Homes & Gardens Cookbook

Ingredients:

2 eggs

3/4 cup milk

2/3 cup  dry bread crumbs

1/2 teaspoon onion powder

1 1/2 teaspoon dried parsley

1/2 teaspoon dried basil

1 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon pepper

1 1/2 pounds ground beef

1/4 cup ketchup

2 tablespoons brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon mustard

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. In a bowl, beat together eggs and milk.  Stir in bread crumbs, onion powder, parsley, basil, salt, and pepper.  Add in meat; mix well.  Lightly pat into an 8" x 4" loaf pan.
3. Bake for about 1 or until the internal temperature registers 160 degrees F.  Pour off fat.  In a small bowl, combine ketchup, brown sugar and mustard; spread over meat.  Bake for 10 minutes more.  Let stand 10 minutes before serving.