Fall Meatloaf Food

CLASSIC MEATLOAF

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
• Place the carrot, celery, onion, red bell pepper, mushrooms, and garlic in a food processor, and pulse until very finely chopped, almost to a puree. Place the minced vegetables into a large mixing bowl, and mix in ground chuck, Worcestershire sauce, and egg. Add Italian herbs, salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper. Mix gently with a wooden spoon to incorporate vegetables and egg into the meat. Pour in bread crumbs. With your hand, gently mix in the crumbs with your fingertips just until combined, about 1 minute.
• Form the meatloaf into a ball. Pour olive oil into a baking dish and place the ball of meat into the dish. Shape the ball into a loaf, about 4 inches high by 6 inches across.
• Bake in the preheated oven just until the meatloaf is hot, about 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in a small bowl, mix together brown sugar, ketchup, Dijon mustard, and hot sauce. Stir until the brown sugar has dissolved.
• Remove the meatloaf from the oven. With the back of a spoon, smooth the glaze onto the top of the meatloaf, then pull a little bit of glaze down the sides of the meatloaf with the back of the spoon.
• Return meatloaf to oven, and bake until the loaf is no longer pink inside and the glaze has baked onto the loaf, 30 to 40 more minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the loaf should read at least 160 degrees F (70 degrees C). Cooking time will depend on shape and thickness of the meatloaf.

MEATLOAF THAT DOESN'T CRUMBLE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• In a food processor or blender, combine the bell pepper, onion and celery. Process until finely chopped, but not liquid. Transfer to a large bowl. Add the ground beef, ground pork, cracker crumbs, onion soup mix, salt, pepper, sage and milk. Mix well using your hands, or if you have a stand mixer, mix using the paddle attachment. Transfer to a 9x5 inch loaf pan and form into a loaf, mounding in the center. Cover with a generous layer of ketchup.
• Bake for 1 1/2 hours in the preheated oven. Serve hot. Refrigerate leftovers, slice and serve cold in sandwiches.

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.

FALL MEATLOAF

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Combine the ketchup, cranberry sauce and jalapeno in a small saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a simmer and let cook, stirring occasionally, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from the heat, then discard the chile and set aside.
• Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and celery and cook until both soften and start to become translucent, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for another minute. Remove from the heat and allow to cool slightly.
• Combine the turkey, stuffing mix, eggs, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper in a large bowl. Add the onion mixture and 1 cup of the ketchup sauce and stir gently until just combined, making sure not to overmix.
• Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking sheet and shape it into a loaf. Pour the remaining ketchup sauce over the loaf and spread so that the entire loaf is covered with sauce. Bake for 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, toss the sweet potatoes in a bowl with remaining tablespoon oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Remove the meatloaf from the oven and scatter the wedges on the baking sheet around the meatloaf. Return to the oven and cook for another 45 minutes. Remove from the oven and let rest for 5 minutes, then slice and transfer to a serving platter. Surround with the baked sweet potatoes.

AUTUMN MEATLOAF

Steps:

• Mix all ingredients well. Place into a large loaf pan (or 2 small loaf pans). Spread ketchup over top if desired.
• Preheat oven to 350°F and bake for 55-60 minutes, or until internal temperature registers 165°F Let stand, covered, for 10 minutes to set the meatloaf and to finish cooking (final internal temperature should be 170F.).
• To serve: Remove from loaf pan and place on serving platter.