It's More Than a Meal, It's Also.....

A doorstop. A paperweight. In fact, if handled properly, it could be used as a deadly weapon. No, it's not the latest late night informercial product. It's not even Ellie May's biscuits from the Beverly Hillbillies. I wish it was, but (I hate to admit it) it's my meatloaf.

I realize that this is a pretty gutsy admission from a food writer, but I believe that honesty is the best policy. Let's face it everyone has an off day once in a while. And besides, it was only one of my meatloafs and it was a very, very long time ago.

However, time has not dulled the memory. I'll never forget that meatloaf. It started out like any other meatloaf. It was made of the same stuff as any other meatloaf. It mooshed together like any other meatloaf. It went into the oven like any other meatloaf. But, something happened to it. What came out was NOT like any other meatloaf. Instead of being a plump, juicy loaf, this was a small, shriveled, black thing.

I looked at it. My cats, Mr. Bill and Sluggo, looked at it. I smelled it. Mr. Bill smelled it. Sluggo glared at me. I tasted it. The cats took off for another room.

Luckily (for others), I was just cooking for myself in those days. So no one else had to suffer, but me. And, trust me, suffer I did.

It was in the lean days. I was just out of nursing school and there was often more month than money. I had planned to make that meatloaf the basis for an entire week of meals.

I don't remember eating it the first evening. I think that I was hoping it would act like spaghetti sauce and be better the next day. Not! It looked as bad Day 2 as it had Day 1.

Never considering myself a quitter, I took it on as a challenge. After all, I'd been in 4H and the Girl Scouts. I could conquer this. No mere meatloaf would defeat me. I tried everything to make it palatable....gravy, steaming, thin slices, cheese sauce, etc. In the end, nothing helped. Believe me when I say that it was a very long week. But I survived and am a better cook for it.

So, here you go............my favorite meatloaf meal. I'm sure that what happened, those oh so many years ago, will not happen again. In fact, I'm certain of it. After all, it didn't when I made this last night.

Meatloaf
Serves 6.

1 pound ground beef, extra lean
1 pound ground pork
1 cup dry bread crumbs
2 eggs
1 small onion -- chopped
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
2 tablespoons ketchup
1 teaspoon dry mustard
salt -- to taste
pepper -- to taste

Thoroughly mix all ingredients. Form into a loaf and place in an ungreased loaf pan. Bake uncovered in a preheated 350 degree oven until done (about 1 1/4 hours). Remove meatloaf from pan and let set for 5 minutes before cutting.

Chive and Cheese Stuffed Baked Potato
Serves 2.

2 large russet potatoes
1 tablespoon butter
1 ounce cream cheese
1/3 cup cheddar cheese -- shredded
1/8 cup chives -- chopped
1 tablespoon milk
salt -- to taste
pepper -- to taste

Thoroughly scrub potatoes and dry. Rub skin with corn oil and place in a preheated 350 degree oven. Bake until a knife can pass through the potato without resistance (about 1 hour). Remove potatoes from oven. WHEN WORKING WITH POTATOES JUST OUT OF THE OVEN, USE OVEN MITS, POT HOLDERS, ETC. TO PREVENT BURNS.

Carefully cut a thin slice out of the length of the potato. Taking care to leave the skin of the potato intact, scoop out the potato and place in a small bowl. Mash potato with a fork. Add remaining ingredients and mix well. Spoon mixture back into potato skins. Return potatoes to oven and bake until heated back to serving temperature.

Wilted Spinach
Serves 4.

1 bunch spinach
2 bacon slices
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon water
1 egg, hard-boiled -- chopped
salt -- to taste
pepper -- to taste

Wash spinach, remove stems and coarsely chop. Cut bacon slices into 1/4 inch slices. Fry bacon slices in a medium skillet until crispy. Reduce heat. CAREFULLY add vinegar, water and spinach. Partially cover skillet and simmer until spinach wilts (about 45 seconds to 1 minute). Remove from heat. Add salt and pepper and sprinkle with chopped hard-boiled egg.