| Every family has its own meat loaf recipe and | | | | BEST MEAT LOAF IN THE WORLDINGREDIENTS: 3/4 |
| many of them start with a soup mix. However | | | | cup fresh wheat bread crumbs; 3/4 cup skim |
| this family recipe, given to me years ago by | | | | milk; 1 1/2 pounds 90% or 93% lean ground |
| my mother-in-law, is made-from-scratch meat | | | | beef; 2 large eggs, beaten; 1/4 cup grated |
| loaf. I'm not talking about the mushy, | | | | onion; 1 teaspoon salt; 1/8 teaspoon frershly |
| mystery meat loaf you may have eaten at | | | | ground pepper; 1/2 teaspoon dried sageCombine |
| restaurants. No, I'm talking about all beef | | | | ingredients in a large mixing bowl with a |
| meat loaf with ketchup and brown sugar | | | | fork. (Don't over-mix or the meat loaf will |
| topping.Quality ingredients are what make | | | | be tough.) Turn meat mixture into a meat |
| this meat loaf so good. First of all, the | | | | loaf pan. Smooth the meat loaf with the |
| recipe calls for only one kind of meat - | | | | tines of the fork. Prepare topping with 1/4 |
| ground beef. The bread crumbs are fresh, not | | | | cup ketchup, 3 tablespoons brown sugar (or |
| something from a can. The onion is also | | | | no-calorie brown sugar), 1 teaspoon dry |
| fresh, though I've used dehydrated in a | | | | mustard, and 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg. Spread |
| pinch. As for the topping, it makes every | | | | topping over meat loaf. Bake in 350 degree |
| mouthful of meat loaf extra delicious.To make | | | | oven for 1 hour. Let meat loaf cool for 10 |
| the meat loaf healthier I've changed a few of | | | | minutes before slicing. Makes 8-10 |
| the ingredients. I use 90% or 93% lean | | | | servings.Copyright 2005 by Harriet Hodgson. |
| ground beef, not the cheaper, fattier kind. | | | | Hodgson has been a nonfiction writer for 27 |
| Skim milk replaces whole milk. Instead of | | | | years and is a member of the Association of |
| white bread crumbs I use whole wheat bread | | | | Health Care Journalists. Before she became a |
| crumbs. Often I use no-calorie brown sugar | | | | health writer she was a food writer for the |
| instead of regular.You can make this meat | | | | former "Rochester Magazine" in her hometown |
| loaf in minutes. A family of four, including | | | | of Rochester, MN. Her 24th book, "Smiling |
| two teens, will proably eat this meat loaf at | | | | Through Your Tears: Anticipating Grief," |
| one sitting. If you have any leftovers you | | | | written with Lois Krahn, MD, is available |
| can make meat loaf sandwiches or crumble the | | | | from A five-star review of the book is |
| meat loaf into spaghetti sauce. Here's the | | | | also posted on Amazon. |
| recipe, a gift from my family to yours.THE | | | | |