Mom's Meatloaf

I think every man has at least one dish that his mom makes that he can’t live without.  This one’s mine.  This was my favorite Sunday meal growing up.  I remember being a child, walking inside from a day of winter sledding, peeling off my layers of snow clothes, cheeks all rosy, and sitting down to a meal of my mom’s meatloaf and potatoes.  I don’t think there’s much left in this world as real, unpretentious and wonderfully abiding. 

It’s light and dense at the same time, filled with concentrated tomato and smothered in caramel ketchup, bacon and bruléed onions.  Serve this on a cold day with roasted vegetables and horseradish potatoes for some hands-down, hug me hard, wrapped in a blanket, delicious comfort food.

Mom's Meatloaf

2 lbs lean ground beef

¾ Onion, finely diced

¼ Onion, in rings

1 Egg

½ C. bread crumbs

2 Cloves of garlic, minced

1 Can tomato soup

¼ C. Ketchup

2 T. Brown sugar

Bacon

Preheat the oven to 350.  Combine the beef, diced onions, egg, bread crumbs, garlic and tomato soup in a large bowl, mixing with your hands until it is thoroughly combined.   Form the mixture into a large loaf and place in a large baking dish. 

In a small bowl, stir together the ketchup and the brown sugar.  Smear this sauce on top of the meatloaf.  Add the onion rings and top with a single layer of uncooked bacon.  Bake until the meatloaf is cooked through, about 1 hour.  Serve with roasted veggies, your favorite potatoes and extra ketchup. 

*Thank you to Morgan Webb who suggested meatloaf sandwiches.  Each time I make mom’s meatloaf, I’m sure to reserve a few slices for the next day.  Come back to Natural Sugar tomorrow for a killer meatloaf sandwich.  

BONUS Recipe:  Oven Roasted Veggies

You can't go wrong with this side dish.  It's classic, rustic and it seriously couldn't be easier!  Use your favorite veggies or whatever you have in the fridge.

Your favorite veggies, roughly chopped (I use potatoes, onion, carrots & something green)

Olive oil

Salt & Pepper

Your favorite dried herbs (I like thyme or herbs de provence)

Preheat the oven to 375.  

Add all of the chopped veggies to a big bowl.  Drizzle them with olive oil, salt, pepper and herbs.  Toss them so they are all evenly covered in flavor.  Dump them onto a baking sheet and spread them into an even layer.  Bake for 30-45 minutes, turning once or twice, until they are beautifully roasted.  

You Ought to Know How to Catch a Ban-ahhhhhhh-na!

A while ago, my family had a discussion about our favorite family meals.  Specifically, my mom wanted to know which meals we remembered most fondly that she used to cook.  We pondered the question and my brother spoke up first.  He looked oddly confused for a moment and then responded, “none.”  We all burst out laughing, mom included.  Poor mom.  The truth is, she is not a master chef.   She's too humble to mention it, but she does have several fantastic recipes up her sleeve that I still remember and look forward to eating.  This is just one of them that my brother must have forgotten.

This banana bread is moist and rich and speckled with bursts of warm chocolate.  I've added some orange zest for a bit of freshness.  It can be served for breakfast or dessert.  Thank you, mom, for a memorable and humble family recipe.    

1/4 C. butter

3/4 C. sugar

2 eggs

½ t. vanilla

Zest of ½ an orange

2 C. baking mix

1 1/2 C. mashed ripe bananas (about 4 bananas)

8 oz. semisweet chocolate chips

Preheat the oven to 375.  In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar.  Add the eggs, vanilla and zest and beat until thoroughly combined.  Add the remaining ingredients and mix until well blended.  Pour into a greased loaf pan and bake about 30-35 minutes until the top is browned and a toothpick entered into the center of the bread comes out clean.  My favorite way to eat it is sliced and broiled with butter on top.