Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Mom's Meatloaf

Meatloaf is one of those meals where no matter where I am or how old I get, I always feel like I am a kid living back at home. My sisters and I were recently teasing our mom that there were certain meals that always came with the same side dishes and the same traditions. Mom's meatloaf was always served with mashed potatoes and spinach, with a side of applesauce and cinnamon, prepared on Friday nights. (Mine would have been served with those same sides had I been able to spend more time in the kitchen making mashed potatoes-- it just doesn't taste the same with out them!) If we were really lucky, we got to eat on our Cabbage Patch TV trays while watching Dallas. Even as I write this, I hear the Dallas theme music in the background. . . scary, huh?

As much as I tease, I love that this meal has such comforting memories attached to it. I can only hope that one day my own children will be able to look back on the moments that we are creating now with as much appreciation and respect.

Mom's Meatloaf

3 pounds ground chuck
3 large eggs
2 medium to large onions
1 small or 1/2 large green pepper
25 saltines, finely crushed
3/4 cup milk
barbeque sauce (I always use Sweet Baby Rays)
1 cup applesauce (optional)
garlic salt
pepper

Break apart ground chuck in a large mixing bowl. Place eggs into a food processor and add onions and green pepper (both quartered). Process eggs, onions, and green pepper until finely chopped. Add egg mixture to meat along with the crushed saltines, milk, BBQ sauce to taste, applesauce (if desired), and seasonings. Mix well and place meat mixture in a 9 x 13 inch pan. Form into an oblong loaf. Bake at 350 degrees for 60-75 minutes.

**Note: The meatloaf can be baked adding nothing or you can choose one of the following options: 1.) Brush top with BBQ sauce and also place sliced onion on top, or 2.) Mix one can of tomato or cream of mushroom soup with 1/3 cup of water and pour over meatloaf before baking.

7 comments:

  1. I've never made meatloaf using an applesauce/bbq sauce combo. It sounds amazine. My mom always used the crushed saltines in hers too, but it always tased like dog food. She really is not that great of a cook! I'm so jealous of your cabbage patch tv trays. I would have loved those. I was so excited when they started selling cabbage patches again. I was so excited about them that my girls bought me one for mothers day a few years ago. They ended up playing with it and all my old ones (and then got a few of their own). Did you like punky brewster too?

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  2. Talk about bringing back memories! Whatever happened to those TV trays...does Mom still have them? Okay, here's a pop quiz for you! Do you remember what went with Thursday nights/The Cosby Show? :)

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  3. Heidi-- I LOVED Punky Brewster!! My little girl's first doll was a Cabbage Patch doll and she got it before she was even born! :)

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  4. Rachel... I honestly can't remember for the life of me. You stumped me! For some reason, hot dogs stand out in my mind. Was that right?

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  5. You would be correct :) Remember Mom's cabbage and meatballs? Do you have that recipe??? Also, do you remember that one frozen "dessert" type thing that she made...it had cherries in it?!? I've been craving that, too!

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  6. I love meatloaf, unfortunately my husband doesn't, but it's not all about him so every once in a while I sneak one in the menu. Came by from SITS.

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  7. That looks so yummy! I know what goes on my menu nest week.

    I have been looking at your blog and I love so many things I could not decide what to comment on, so this is a quick comment but I am sure I will be thinking yummy thoughts while I am drooling over everything else..

    Happy SITS DAY!

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