Especially Good Meat Loaf South Food

SOUTHERN-STYLE MEAT LOAF

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. In a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add onion and celery; cook and stir until crisp-tender, 4-5 minutes. Add carrots and garlic; cook and stir until tender, 1-2 minutes longer. Transfer vegetable mixture to a large bowl. Add eggs, crackers and seasonings. Add beef; mix lightly but thoroughly, Shape into an 8x4-in. loaf in a greased 11x7-in. baking dish. Bake, covered, for 45 minutes. Uncover and bake until a thermometer reads 160°, 15-20 minutes longer. Let stand 10 minutes. Cut into slices; spread with pimento cheese. Serve with potatoes and if desired, shredded cheese and jalapeno.

ESPECIALLY GOOD MEAT LOAF (SOUTH)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• In a large bowl, combine meats with the onion, thyme, breadcrumbs, eggs, salt & pepper, mixing well with a fork (not with your hands, since that will toughen freshly ground meat), then form into a large loaf.
• Place 3 to 6 pieces of bacon in the bottom of a baking dish, then lay the loaf on top of the bacon, before covering the top of the loaf with the rest of the bacon (which adds flavor & moisture).
• Bake about 1 1/2 hours or until the outside of the loaf is golden brown, the juices run clear when the loaf is poked with a skewer, & it feels firm to the touch.
• Discard all the bacon & serve either hot or cold.

SOUTHERN MEATLOAF

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients. Pre-heat the oven to 350 F.
• Grease an 8 1/2 x 4 1/2-inch loaf pan or line it with foil and then lightly grease it. Alternatively, for a free-form loaf, line a rimmed baking pan with foil.
• In a large bowl, combine the ground beef with the crushed saltines, onion, green pepper, egg, paprika, garlic powder, salt, thyme, black pepper, 1/3 cup of ketchup , milk, and Worcestershire sauce .
• Pack the meat mixture into the loaf pan or shape it and place it on the baking pan.
• Bake the meatloaf for 1 hour. Carefully pour excess grease into a can or jar (dispose of it in the trash after it cools).
• Spread the meatloaf with 1/2 to 3/4 cup of ketchup or barbecue sauce and continue baking for 15 minutes longer, or until the meatloaf registers at least 160 F on an instant-read food thermometer inserted into the center. (If you have instead swapped ground turkey or chicken for the beef, cook the loaf to an internal temperature of 165 F.)
• Let the meatloaf rest for ten minutes before slicing so it holds together well. Then, serve and enjoy!

HEARTY COUNTRY MEATLOAF WITH SOUR CREAM GRAVY

Steps:

• Tear the bread into small pieces and soak in a large mixing bowl with the milk while you prepare the rest of the loaf.
• Melt the butter in a small skillet and saute the mushrooms, onion and garlic until soft, about 3 minutes.
• Let cool.
• Mix the vegetables and meat into the bread mixture with your hands.
• Add the eggs, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, marjoram, thyme, salt and pepper; mix by hand in a circular motion.
• Form into a free-form 9" x 5" loaf.
• Drape with the bacon and place on a greased rack in a broiler pan.
• Bake in a preheated 375 degree F oven for about 1 hour and 15 to 30 minutes, or until browned and meat is cooked through.
• Lift off the rack and keep warm while making the gravy.
• Pour 1/4 cup of the pan drippings into a small saucepan.
• Stir flour into the drippings until smooth.
• Cook, stirring, over medium heat 3 minutes.
• Gradually stir in the stock and bring to a boil.
• Reduce the heat and cook until thickened.
• Stir in the sour cream; heat through but do not boil.
• Season with salt and pepper.
• Transfer to a heated sauce boat and sprinkle with parsley.

EASY MEATLOAF RECIPE

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 190C/fan 170C/gas 5. Put bread in processor and blitz to make crumbs, then tip into a bowl with the pork.
• Tip the onion, garlic and herbs into the food processor and process until finely chopped. Add to the bowl with the parmesan and egg. Finely chop 2 slices of the prosciutto and add to the mix with some salt and pepper. Mix well with a fork or your hands.
• Use the rest of the prosciutto to line a 1.5 litre loaf tin. Spoon in the meatloaf mix and press down well. Flip the overhanging prosciutto over the top, then put the loaf tin into a roasting tray.
• Pour hot water from the kettle into the roasting tray to come halfway up the loaf tin and bake for 1 hr until loaf shrinks from the sides of tin.
• Cool in the tin for 10 mins, then drain off any excess liquid and turn out onto a board. Cut into thick slices and serve warm or cold with salad.

REALLY GOOD VEGETARIAN MEATLOAF (REALLY!)

Steps:

• Add salt to water and boil in a saucepan.
• Add lentils and simmer covered 25-30 minutes, until lentils are soft and most of water is evaporated.
• Remove from fire.
• Drain and partially mash lentils.
• Scrape into mixing bowl and allow to cool slightly.
• Stir in onion, oats and cheese until mixed.
• Add egg, tomato sauce, garlic, basil, parsley, seasoning salt and pepper.
• Mix well.
• Spoon into loaf pan that has been generously sprayed with Pam (non-stick cooking spray) or well-greased.
• Smooth top with back of spoon.
• Bake at 350 degrees for 30- 45 minutes until top of loaf is dry, firm and golden brown.
• Cool in pan on rack for about 10 minutes.
• Run a sharp knife around edges of pan then turn out loaf onto serving platter.

OUR FAVORITE MEATLOAF

Steps:

• Position rack in center of oven; preheat to 350°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet or 13x9" shallow baking dish with foil. Soak breadcrumbs in milk in a large bowl until ready to use.
• Pulse onion, celery, and garlic in a food processor until finely chopped. (Alternatively, you can finely chop by hand.)
• Heat oil in a large skillet over medium. Add onion mixture, 1 tsp. salt, and 1/2 tsp. pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, 5-7 minutes. Remove from heat, stir in Worcestershire, and scrape into bowl with breadcrumb mixture. Add beef, pork, eggs, 1/4 cup ketchup, and remaining 1 1/4 tsp. salt and 1 tsp. pepper, then mix with your hands to combine.
• Form meatloaf mixture into a long, well-packed, approximately 5"-wide loaf shape on prepared baking sheet. Brush top of loaf with 1/4 cup ketchup. Bake meatloaf until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center registers 155°F, 60-75 minutes. Let rest 15 minutes before slicing. Serve with more ketchup alongside.
• Do Ahead
• Meatloaf can be made 3 days ahead; wrap in foil and chill, or freeze for up to 3 months.