Meatloaf

Oh, I've been cooking, because everyone else wants to eat regardless of my dental woes!  (Seriously, is anyone surprised by that?)  Meatloaf is pretty easy to break into little bits, so even we dentally challenged individuals can manage it, and it has the added benefit of being Ryan's absolute favorite meal.  So when it was 47 degrees the other night, after a rainy and chilly day, meatloaf was the centerpiece of the menu!

MARJIE'S MEATLOAF

2 pounds ground beef
2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1/4 cup milk
2 onions
1 carrot
1 tsp salt
1 tsp paprika

Chop the onions and carrot into a very fine mess, almost the consistency of mush.  Add the milk, salt and paprika, and blend briefly to combine.  Put the ground beef in a bowl, form a hollow in the middle of it, pour in the blended mix, and add the Worcestershire sauce.  Fold over until combined, then form the mixture into a loaf in a pan.  Sprinkle a little more Worcestershire sauce over the meatloaf, then cook at 375F for 40 to 50 minutes.  For gravy, combine 1 cup of water, 2 beef bouillon cubes and about 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce, bring to a boil, then whisk 1-1/2 tbsp cornstarch into 1/4 cup cold water and whisk that into the boiling liquid.  Cook until it thickens, adding a touch more liquid if necessary.

If you like to use a starch filler in your meatloaf, use 1 cup oats - quick or original.  I avoid that due to sugar/starch considerations, but the oats can be added with the onion mush, and 1/4 cup more milk.  I usually serve my meatloaf with a wild rice side dish and some green veggies, and never have any leftovers.  Sad, really, because it would make a great lunch the next day!

Hope you all have a great weekend planned!