Meatloaf!

Hi folks,

I don’t get into too many cooking items on my blog, but since I stepped on my wee-wee last night, I should send out a tip. Of course it is probably something that you all know, but I learned the hard way!

In all honesty, I do, usually, make a killer meatloaf. It’s nothing out of the ordinary mind you, but that fucker is pretty tasty. It’s my mom’s recipe and basically calls for a pound of hamburger, which I usually use a low fat content version, but not a chuck since it kind of changes the taste and usually has less renderings which are kind of crucial to the process. A half of a diced up onion, which I use a partial bag of Lipton Onion Soup. I don’t use a whole bag because I think it is overwhelming. One eggiweg, some salt and pepper and some ketchup. I use about ¾ of a cup myself. And finally, and I found out that this is key, a sleeve of crackers. Mom started using Ritz many years ago and they do provide what I think is a better flavor than saltines. Of course, if you don’t put them in, it really doesn’t matter. I don’t put any ketchup or any other concoction on the top as I don’t like it, and hey, it’s my meatloaf.

Funny story about putting that concoction on a loaf. My mom made it without that for years much to my pop’s chagrin. Well one night she put it on the loaf and I was horrified. Well it was a standoff. I wasn’t eating it with the ketchup crap on top of it, even though I generally like ketchup, and I wasn’t leaving the table until I do. An hour passed after everyone else was done and there I sat. Mom tried to hang tough, but it was no contest. My will prevailed. I may have went hungry, and those who know me, know that isn’t really a problem. I was released from the table and ultimately that night we went to the mall and I got a Johnny Bench T-shirt which I remember wearing until it was threads! Mom is such a softie!

Well last night I found out that there is more to the crackers than flavor. Without them, my poor meatloaf was swimming in the renderings since there were no crackers to soak it up. It also made a much smaller loaf. Also since it was swimming in the renderings none of the bottom had that nice crunchy texture that really tastes good. It was just a disaster.

God bless Linda. She ate it last night and ate more for breakfast this morning. It was so plain jane, but she still liked it. At least the mashed taters and corn were good!

So remember any of you out there making meatloaves. DON’T FORGET THE CRACKERS!!!