IS YOUR MEAT LOAFING ?????

IS YOUR MEAT LOAFING?

Mine certainly is not! I made a delicious Meat Loaf for dinner this evening, with fresh mashed potatoes, baby peas in butter sauce and mushroom/beef gravy. Mom loved it and I have decided to share my recipe with you for this Frisky Meat Loaf.

3 Pounds ground meat (one pound each Beef, Pork and Veal)
SPECIAL NOTE: I like to select the cuts of meat myself and then have my butcher grind them for me. If you don't have a butcher that will grind for you, then make sure to purchase thin(not more than and inch and 1/2 thick) pre-packaged ground meats. These jumbo packs that are 3 or more inches thick do not chill in the center and that can be a breeding ground for bacteria. Evidence this in the vibrant red external color and the dull grey/brown in the middle.
3 Large Eggs (Or 2 Jumbo)
2 Cups French Bread Crumbs (made from you left over, sweet baguettes, well pounded)
1 Medium Onion chopped very finely
5 Table Spoons of Bourbon (YUM) I prefer Maker's Mark
1 Table Spoon Worcestershire Sauce. I prefer Cross & Blackwell
2 Table Spoons Herbs de Province
1 Table Spoon ground dry garlic or
6 cloves fresh minced garlic
1 Table Spoon Sweet Hungarian Paprika
1/2 Table spoon Kosher Salt
1/2 Table Spoon Fresh Ground Pepper

In a large bowl whip up all liquids with the eggs. Crush the Herb De province in your Mortar with Pestle and ad along with all spices and onions to the bowl and mix well. Add the fine bread crumbs and mix thoroughly. Put your ground meat in, put on your rubber throw away glove ( or not) and mix till seasoning mixture is worked throughout the meat.

Take a good sized roasting pan, preferably non-stick if you have one, and if not then make sure to grease yours well with butter. Form the loaf roughly in your hands and place in your roasting pan. tighten up the shape one in the pan.

Place the roasting pan in your preheated 385 degree oven for approximately 1 and 3/4 hours to two and a 1/4 hours. Test the temperature with a meat thermometer and if center of the loaf registers at 170 Degrees take the roasting pan out and let set for 10 minutes.

Serve with a Mushroom Beef gravy along with mashed potatoes and veggies of your choice.
A nice Zinfandel or Syrah will go very well with this Flawless Frisky Meat Loaf.

As Julie would say, "Bon Appetit", and have fun making this very traditional and down home dish. There is nothing better than comfort food.

Sweet Dreams and Bon Nuit,
Stephen