Moby Homes and Meat Loaf just seem to go hand in hand. After all, it’s hard to afford beef tenderloin on a mobile home mamma’s budget. I get raves for my meatloaf… so I figgered it would be the best first addition to the Mobile Home Woman’s cooking collection!
And just like a favorite blogging cooks… I’m gonna take photos of the process! Of course, I’m just using my little point and shoot camera… but I’ll do my best to make them purdy and appealing! Let me tell you… this is some good meatloaf!
I’m dedicating this post to my friend Dave because he LOVES my meatloaf. I know cuz I think the first time I made it for him, he was not too sure about it… he’s not really a meatloaf kind of guy! (g) (He likes chicken a bit more…) but he was kind enough to give it a try and then he was totally sold… he even thought it was better than his own mom’s! (Sorry Grandma Russell!!! She still make the best cookies though…)
3 Pounds of kinda cheap higher fat hamburger
1 pound good mild sausage
3 eggs
2 cups Italian breadcrumbs
about a cup of ketchup
1 package onion soup mix
2-4 tablespoons of dehydrated onion (to taste)
1 teaspoon of garlic salt
1 teaspoon of season salt
a splash of milk
I start with all the spices. Mix them up with a little stir
Then add eggs, breadcrumbs and ketchup. If you want, add a little bit of BBQ sauce… that can give it a zippy taste.
Mix it all up good and this is where you add a spash of milk. If it’s looking a little too thick… then add a little splash of milk. Stir and take a look. With the breadcrumbs, it can sometimes be a little too dry. You want a sort of pasty sauce thing going on.
Now add the meat…
You might wonder why I like to use a good higher grade sausage, and yet a kinda lower grade hamburger. Well… the basic stuff has more fat. And more fat makes for a juicier and more flavorable meat loaf. You can use a real lean sirloin hamburger if you want, but I have found that the tube stuff really works best. Now, if I’m going to use ground beef for say spaghetti or burgers, or anything else? I’ll use a leaner meat. But too lean in your meat loaf and you get a crumbly sorta dry loaf. That’s probably the biggest secret in my meat loaf. Higher fat in the beef.
And stir together good. Wash your hands good and use them… it’s really the best way to get the meats to mush all together with the spicy paste sauce.
At this point… because there are just three of us in our family… I cut this mixed load yumminess into two halves and freeze one half and cook the other. It freezes pretty nice… just thaw it and you got a meat loaf ready to go.
And of course, every good moby home cook knows that you got to do a purdy design with the ketchup over the top of your beauty… sometimes I do a sort of lattice of the red stuff… other times just a good squiggle. But remember to get a lot of the stuff over your loaf… that is part of the best part of a good trailer park meatloaf… that ketchup kinda gets a little hard and sorta sweet and it’s just perfect.
Pop in a 350 degree oven for about an hour or so… watch it after 45 minutes and when it looks nice and golden brown and the ketchup is still red but getting a little hard looking, then that baby is ready to come out and set a few minutes. Pour off the fat and slap ‘er on your best garage sale dish and you’re ready for some good eating.
The perfect side dishes are a can of corn with some real butter in it, and a big pot of mashed potatoes…. and you are ready for some fine eatin’… and remember, that cold slice meatloaf makes some mighty fine sandwiches… that is if there is anything left!
The dawgs in the house will be waiting to lick clean that pan, especially it there is crispy bits that stuck to the bottom… everyone loves moby home meat loaf!
Pin It
Every time I think of meatloaf all I can remember is the first time I made it. The whole thing was a disaster! I do really like meatloaf though, and my mom use to make it with onion powder instead of real onion when I was younger because I didn’t like onion back then. Maybe when I move I will try making some again when I’m alone so I wont poison anyone with my cooking if it turns out bad! I’m sure my three dogs will help me “get rid of” the evidence.
Hi,
I’ve watched all your videos on youtube, and then discovered you had a blog. Love what you have done with your mobile home, very inspirational. I have to say though, just plain ketchup on top of the meatloaf? I love meatloaf, my momma taught me her trick to the topping. Yes, your base is still ketchup, but you mix in (small bowl works fine) mustard (not to much, about 1/4th of what you used in ketchup) and light brown sugar (2-3 tablespoons) till its a deep red/burgundy color, spread this on top of the meatloaf and cook it through. It’s adds a wonderful flavor to it, we usually make a little extra to put a spoon or two of it on our plates. Keep up what you’re doing, I’ve really enjoyed reading and watching your progress!