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Cooking Is Easy's
"Idea Starters" for Meatloaf

The "Cooking Is Easy" basic meatloaf technique:

• 1.5 lb ground meat
• 1 C. Bread Crumbs (can substitute 3 slices bread soaked in milk)
• 1.2 C grated Parmesan or Romano Cheese
• 1/2 C Liquid or sauce ( milk, cream, tomato sauce, broth etc)
• 1-2 Eggs
• Seasonings (salt, pepper, plus the stuff you like)

Cooking:
Form into loaf shape (or the shape or your home state) and place in baking dish large enough to allow space on all sides
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Cook for 55-60 minutes. Allow it to rest 5-10 minutes before slicing.
If you use a meat thermometer, it should read 160 (170 for turkey meatloaf)

Italian Meatloaf:

• 1.5 lb ground beef, or combination of beef, pork, and veal
• 1 C. Bread Crumbs (can substitute 3 slices bread soaked in milk)
• 1.2 C grated Parmesan or Romano Cheese
• 1/2 C tomato sauce
• 1-2 Eggs
• 1/3 Cup diced onions
• 1/3 Cup diced red or green bell pepper
• 2-4 cloves fresh garlic finely chopped or minced
• 1 Tbsp balsamic venegar
• 1 Cup tomato sauce (in addition to the sauce shown above)
• Seasonings
  • 1 tsp Salt - 1/2 tsp black pepper
    1 Tbsp chopped parsley
    2 Tbsp chopped basil
    1 tsp garlic powder (omit if using fresh garlic)
    
    

Saute onions and bell peppers in skillet with olive oil until they become soft, about 3 min. Add garlic and saute another minute. remove from heat and let cool. Add this to the meatloaf mixture and cook as shown in basic formula.

After cooking for 45 minutes, spoon some of the tomato sauce over the top of the loaf and cook another 10 min. uncovered. Serve additional sauce on the side.

Spaghetti is a great side dish for this one.

Mom's Meatloaf:

• 1.5 lb ground beef, or combination of beef, pork, and veal
• 1 C. Bread Crumbs (can substitute 3 slices bread soaked in milk)
• 1.2 C grated Parmesan or Romano Cheese
• 1/2 C catsup (can substitute ketchup)
• 1-2 Eggs
• 1/3 Cup diced onions
• 1/3 shredded carrots
• 2-4 cloves fresh garlic finely chopped or minced
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 2 Tbsp worcesterhire sauce
• Seasonings
  • 1 tsp Salt - 1/2 tsp black pepper
    1 Tbsp chopped parsley
    1 tsp garlic powder (omit if using fresh garlic)
    
    

Saute onions in skillet with olive oil until they become soft, about 3 min. Add garlic and carrots, saute another 2 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool. Add this to the meatloaf mixture and cook as shown in basic formula.

This recipe is so moist it doesn't need any sauce, but you can top with tomato sauce and cook for the last 10-15 minutes.

Turkey Meatloaf:

• 1.5 lb ground turkey
• 1 C. Bread Crumbs (can substitute 3 slices bread soaked in milk)
• 1.2 C grated Parmesan or Romano Cheese
• 1/2 C milk
• 1-2 Eggs
• 8-10 oz frozen spinach (thawed and drained on towel)
• 4-6 oz feta cheese
• Seasonings (salt, pepper, plus the stuff you like)

Cooking:
Form into loaf shape (or the shape or your home state) and place in baking dish large enough to allow space on all sides
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Cook for 60 minutes. Allow it to rest 5-10 minutes before slicing.
If you use a meat thermometer, it should read 170

More Meatloaf Ideas:

Using the basic formula above you can add these ingredients combinations to make some interesting variations on the theme.

Vegetably Meatloaf:

to the basic formula add 1.5 C finely diced vegetables. Use any combination of zuchinni, squash, corn, celery, bell peppers. Saute 1/3 C diced onion for 2 minutes, then add the other vegetables and continue to saute until soft. Add to meatloaf mixture and follow the formula.

Mexican Meatloaf:

• 4 oz Shredded Sharp Cheddar Cheese
• 1/2 C diced onions
• 2 jalepeno peppers (seeded and finely chopped)
• Season with 2 Tbsp Chili powder, 1 Tbs Cumin
• 1/2 cup Salsa or Picante sauce, also use as a topping

This works best with ground beef, or 1/3 each beef, pork, veal combo.
Saute the peppers with the onions
Use the picante instead of the liquid such as tomato sauce

Mediteranian Meatloaf:

• 1/4 C black olives, diced
• 1/2 C diced onions
• 3 anchovies
• 1/3 C sun dried tomatoes

This works with beef, beef, pork, veal combo, or ground turkey

Saute onions and garlic,add black olives, anchovies, sun dried tomatoes.
If sundried tomatoes are very dry, soak them in water for 20 minutes and drain before using