Snowed In Meatloaf

The weather outside is cold, icy, rainy, foggy, slippery and it's definitely not the kind of weather to be out food shopping.

I just want to sit back and watch a movie (nothing's on tv), read a good book (I need an e-reader) or I can just read yesterday's newspaper.

But hungry-man has to eat. What a great excuse to rummage through the freezer for dinner. Looks like chopped meat is the dinner winner for this cold winter's day.

Ahhhh! comfort food at it's best tonight, although it doesn't come close to beating out my favorite mac and cheese which I can't make because I don't have enough cheese.

I wanted to make this a special snowed-in occasion and make hubby's favorite style meat loaf. He likes the way his mother made the loaf stuffed with mozzarella cheese and topped with tomato sauce and peas. I didn't have mozzarella so the tomato sauce and peas will just have to do for today.

Mother-in-Law's Basic Meatloaf is her Italian meatball recipe which she then shaped into a loaf. My own personal recipe is one that was given to me way back when I was a new bride and didn't know much about meatloaf. It's a simple and basic recipe that is very tasty and makes delicious leftover sandwiches for lunch the next day.

Basic Meatloaf

• 2 lbs. combination of chopped beef/veal/pork
• 2 eggs
• bread crumbs (I use my judgment) about 3/4 to 1 cup
• 1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley
• 1 finely chopped shallot
• 1 TBL. ketchup
• 1 tsp. Dijon mustard (or use whatever style you like)
• salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Mix all the ingredients in the bowl with the meat and blend well with your hands.
2. Shape into a loaf place it in a roasting pan or a loaf pan that has been coated lightly with cooking spray.
3. Bake at 350 until done. Use a meat thermometer to test for proper temperature. It's difficult to gauge how long to cook a meatloaf so the meat thermometer works best.
4. About 30 minutes before done pour on your favorite marinara sauce and 2 cups peas on top of the loaf. Continue cooking until done. Stir occasionally so the sauce doesn't burn.

Serve with your favorite mashed potatoes. I have a small rosemary plant that sits on the kitchen counter and I added some to the mashed potatoes. They turned out pretty good if I do say so myself.

I'm always looking for a sweet treat. What can be better on this "special" occasion day than a big bowl of ice cream for dessert.

Lesson learned if you know you will be snowed in. Run, don't walk, to your nearest supermarket and pick up the ingredients needed for your favorite comfort foods so you will be prepared. Don't forget the ice cream for dessert. It's a must! when you know you will be snowed in.

I think I'll take my bowl of ice cream to the couch and hope there's a movie on tv I can watch while I enjoy my treat.


I've shared this recipe on the following hops:

Delicious Dishes
Hearth and Soul
Tasty Tuesdays


Stay warm and safe,

Mangia!
Winelady Cooks