My Legendary Meatloaf

When I was growing up, all the other kids ate meatloaf.  But I hated the stuff that was cooked with the baked-on ketchup.  (I never was a big fan of tomato-type sauces.)  But when I was a young wife, living on a very tight budget, I had to learn ways to stretch that pound of hamburger to feed a growing family.  So I looked up meatloaf recipes and then launched into my own version.  The amounts are rough, and you can adjust according to your own taste, but here is a version of meatloaf that even meatloaf haters will love.

First of all, meatloaf shouldn't just be ground beef.  Then it would be beefloaf.  this recipe includes three meats.

Catt's Legendary Meatloaf

1 lb. ground beef (Should be 70%-80% lean; 85% or higher doesn't create enough juices to make the gravy.)
1/2 lb. ground pork or plain sausage
1/2 lb. ground turkey or chicken
2-3 T granulated beef buillion
1/2 C (a handful) of oatmeal
1/2 C barley (optional)
1/2 C corn flakes or bran flakes
1/3 C cornmeal
1 T garlic powder
3-4 T minced onions or onion flakes
3 T soy sauce
1 T Worcestershire sauce
1 T sherry
2 T teriyaki sauce
2 eggs
Other ingredients as you prefer:  liquid smoke, salt, black pepper, celery salt, all purpose seasoning, bread crumbs, crushed croutons.  Be creative.


Mix the entire batch in a big bowl, making sure to mix ingredients thoroughly.  Pat into loaf pans and shape the loaf so that it is slightly domed in the middle.  This makes sure the juices drip back into the pan.  Bake 45 minutes to an hour at 350º.

Gravy:

Pour pan drippings into a small saucepan.  If you don't have approximately 3 T of drippings, add butter to make 3 T.  Add 1 C water and 2 tsp. beef bouillion.  Bring to a boil.  Reduce heat.  Take 3-4 T cornstarch in a cup and drizzle in enough water to make a loose paste.  You'll know when you have the right amount because the cornstarch mixture will stop "pulling" and suddenly be easy to stir.  Add to the water and bouillion and bring to a boil.  Cook for one minute, stirring constantly.  If you like, you can add dehydrated onion flakes to the mixture and have a beef and onion gravy.  Makes a little over a cup.  (If the mixture is too thin, you can add more cornstarch/water paste; if too thick, just add water.)

Serve with mashed potatoes, a vegetable, and a nice salad.  Full bellies and lots of nutrition.  This is real comfort food. You can also serve it with ketchup, if you must.