We are back on track trying a new recipe for Mr. Schnipke. This week I decided to challenge myself. I was looking through the recipes on Sunday afternoon and pulled one from my friend, Jana. Jana has been mentioned many times during the chronicling of Meatloaf Mondays due to her excellent cooking skills and for various other reasons. Since I was going to a concert later that evening with Jana and another friend, I thought this is perfect timing. I just knew her recipe would not be specific enough for my needs. Jana says often she doesn’t really use recipes. I knew I could ask all my questions on the way to Columbus. And I really needed to! Jana’s recipe is used in the feature photo. As you can see there are at least three ingredients with no measurements and then there were two items I have never used before. I needed more details.
The conversation went a little like this. ‘Start with 1/2 cup of breadcrumbs and then add more if needed. How much more? Maybe another 1/2 cup. How much Ketchup? Try a 1/4 of a cup in the meatloaf and then a use 1/4 cup as the topping. How much dry mustard? I don’t know (pause) maybe 1-2 teaspoons.” This was not specific enough but I gave up at this point. I will just do my best- or worst.
Now it’s Monday. I had to text Jana several times. First, from the grocery store to make sure I had the beef bouillon and onion soup mix correct. (Since Barb’s meatloaf in Week #18 it is better to double check!) Then I had to ask during the mixing process, how many beef bouillon cubes. Jana said one because she forgot to tell me to use 3-4 splashes of Worcestershire Sauce. Good thing I have that on hand from another Meatloaf Monday. Jana is like a brilliant kid that just does not understand why the dumb kid in her class cannot figure out the ‘simple’ math problem! If you have no cooking prowess- at all, you need it all dummied down. I forged ahead. It was a little too wet with only a 1/2 cup of bread crumbs, so I added another 1/2 cup. Terry likes mustard and often puts it on his meatloaf so I went with 2 teaspoons of the dry mustard. I stayed with the 1/4 cup ketchup in the meatloaf and then 1/4 cup as the topping.
During baking, the juices overflowed a bit. Terry came in the house and said, “This is a first. I smelled this meatloaf out in the garage.” He was mighty excited. You would seriously think he never gets meatloaf. Jana later told me she uses a baster to take off some of the juices if there is too much. I don’t even own a baster. Again, dumb math kid here.
Terry got ready to sit down and said, “It does not get any better than Meatloaf Monday!” I think it can…filet Monday, dining out Monday, dinner on a beach Monday. I could go on and on with what could be better. Terry gave this meatloaf a very good review. He said it had very good flavor. A quote “this is very pleasing to the palate.” He guessed wrong that he saw onion in it, but it was the onion soup. He added his own mustard. I added salt to mine. I circled back around to Jana and of course, she said, “Oh yes, I add salt.” I am not quite sure yet how this meatloaf, under my care, ranked a 9.0. There is a good chance if Jana made it, the score would sky rocket.
One other funny thing, Jana’s score was the very same as one other. It just happened to be her sister’s meatloaf in Week #9. That is quite interesting because I remember Jana saying that she liked her sister’s meatloaf better than her own. 🙂 Also, in reviewing their recipes they both used the Lipton Onion Soup Mix instead of real onions. I believe these are the only two recipes to date that have used that product.
I have one other thing to close out this week. I really should start a new category for my stupid accidents. I was putting away the groceries and I did this…
I am not even sure how. I turned around and my jacket must have caught the edge of the carton. The eggs flew to the floor. I was only able to save 4. This accident caused me $3.66 and a ton of paper towels. In 23 weeks this is my third installment in “Theresa’s Klutzy Moments”.
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