Tonight I made an All-American classic dinner with Martha’s Meatloaf and Mashed Potatoes from page 29.
Now I know that meatloaf is the kind of thing that inspires groans in dining rooms all across America. “Oh no! Not meatloaf again!” A huge factor of the popularity of meatloaf with moms is that it’s a very economical way to feed a large family. But with a little creativity and a good recipe like this one, meatloaf doesn’t need to be boring! Martha’s recipe called for ground pork and veal in addition to the beef because that’s widely acknowledged to produce the most tender meatloaf. Well, that’s not quite as economical, is it? As I’ve mentioned before, I need to cook on a tight food budget so I just used the ground beef and guess what? It was fabulous!
One way this recipe differs from how I usually make meatloaf is that you grind up some vegetables and simply add them to the mix. You also add things like dijon mustard and worcestershire sauce, and all of this brings so much flavor to your meatloaf! Topped off with a sweet glaze, this was a perfectly simple comfort food meal!
The creamy mashed potatoes are the perfect side dish. This was what Jeff and I call a “no survivors” meal — meaning no leftovers! That’s right, we just ate the whole thing up. Whatever you make for dinner, if you make it with love and plenty of flavor, it doesn’t ever have to be boring.
