Old Classics Updated

Even the old classics need a facelift now and then. Meatloaf is one of my husbands favorites. I admit, I don't make it often. Sadly, I don't like meatloaf. Maybe it's the loaf in the name. I don't know. But, he loves it, so I try to make it for him. I will however eat "some" if I make it like this. Give it a try. If you like meatloaf, I think you will be happy you tried this one.

1-lb ground beef
1 egg
2 slices white bread soaked in milk
1 medium onion diced
2 tbsp. fresh parsley, chopped
salt & pepper
ketchup

Mix all ingredients except ketchup. Line a baking pan with foil. Spray with non-stick spray. Pour meat mixture onto pan and pat into a loaf. Coat with ketchup. Bake at 425º for about 45 minutes. Carefully remove from oven and pour a little more ketchup on top. Return to oven and bake about 20-25 more minutes. Ketchup will get set and get sticky from the sugars.

Roasted Squash.

There is only 2 of us for dinner so I only use 2 yellow squash. Scrub well. Cut in half lengthwise. Place on a foil lined pan sprayed with non-stick cooking spray. Sprinkle with Tony Chacheres Creole seasoning. Dot each half with 1/2 Tbsp of butter. Bake at 400º for about 20 minutes until softened.

Update your green beans. I admit sometimes I use canned green beans when fresh is not available. But, you have to make them taste like fresh cooked green beans. Just a few ingredients you probably already have will make a huge difference.

1-38oz can cut green beans
3 slices of bacon, diced
1 small onion, diced
1-15oz can diced tomatoes
1-2 cups beef broth
salt & pepper to taste
2 tbsp. butter

Drain and rinse green beans. In a dutch oven, cook diced bacon until almost crispy. Add diced onion. Cook until tender. Stir in drained green beans, stir in tomatoes, juice also. Salt & pepper to taste. Add beef broth. You might not need it all. Add just enough to not quite cover beans. Cover with lid and let simmer about 45 mins. Remove lid and cook until most of the liquid has evaporated. Add butter, stir in and let melt. This gives the beans a rich, velvety taste.

Sunday Dinner with Family

Start with a little helper making Peach Cobbler. Its always best when you get little hands involved.

 3 - 1lb bags frozen peaches, 2 cup sugar, 1/2 cup flour, 3 tbsp lemon juice, pinch of salt. Mix well and put in a buttered 9X13 pan. Preheat oven to 400. Mix 3 cups all purpose flour, 3 heaping tbsp sugarm 1 1/2 tbsp baking powder, pinch of salt, 3 tbsp cold butter, 3 tbsp cold shortening. Cut butter and shortening into flour mixture. Add 3/4 cup whole milk, and 2 whole eggs, beaten. Mix well. Mixture will be thick.

 Drop with tbsp, or use fingers to drop into small clumps over the peaches. Sprinkle topping with additional sugar. Bake 30-35 minutes.  (recipe courtesy Pioneer Woman, Ree Drummond)

 Set a beautiful table. You'll be happy you did.

I served pork chops, caramelized onions, butter beans, cole slaw, corn casserole, and hashbrown casserole, rolls, and cornbread. Serve sweet tea and lemonade. What a great Sunday Dinner with Family.

(corn casserole and hashbrown casserole courtesy of Pioneer Woman, Ree Drummond.)

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Cabbage, Red Potatoes, & Pork Chops

 

 

 

 Begin by cutting up a head of cabbage.

 Next, add a very small amount of water, less than 1/4 cup, to a large pan. Add a stick of butter, I know that sounds like a lot, but trust me, you will be happy you did. Salt and pepper to taste. Add cabbage and stir. (of course I forgot picture of adding cabbage, but you get the idea.)

 Cut up a few red potatoes. Add to pan on top of cabbage. Do not stir.



 

Cook cabbage and potatoes on medium to medium low, about 12-15 minutes, until potatoes are just tender. Now, I used leftover fried pork chops from my Sunday Dinner with Family. Lay on top of potatoes. Still not stirring up. Cover and let the steam heat the pork chops through. Enjoy with beverage of your choice. Here in the south, of course its sweet tea.

Comfort Food Sunday

 

What could be better to comfort than a big pot of homemade chicken and dumplings. Just start with boneless chicken breasts or thighs or whatever your favorite piece is. Throw in a pot, cover with water, salt and pepper for some good seasoning and boil until chicken is done. In the meantime, boil a couple of eggs. Remove chicken pieces and set aside to cool so you can handle them in a bit. Now to the delicious broth that is left in the pot, add a stick of butter, don't be shy, you know you want it. Now, if this offends you I'm sorry, but I don't have time to make my own dumplings from scratch and roll them out. I use the frozen kind. Think what you want but they are very, very good. Now, break them up into smallish pieces and add to the simmering broth. Break up the pieces of chicken. Don't shred it, just pull apart. Dice up the eggs, not too small, and add to the broth with the chicken pieces. Pour in a small amount of milk. Just enough to color the broth. Salt and pepper to your taste. When the mixture starts getting thick, thrown in a handful of frozen peas and carrots. Turn off stove. Enjoy!

 





 

Now, along with the dumplings another comfort food is potato soup. Boil potatoes in chicken broth until tender. Remove from heat. Cream potatoes with a hand held mixer or you can use an emersion blender if you have one. Add a package of dry ranch dressing, white velveeta, salt & pepper to taste. Yummylicious!

 

 

Now, the all time comfort food is macaroni and cheese, add pineapple casserole and pineapple salsa and you have a meal fit for a king, or queen.





 

 

Top it all off with a plate of deviled eggs. That's all you need. Well, except for dessert. You can see the peanut butter pie on the left. So good!

 

 

 

 

Chocolate Strawberry cake was the highlight of todays Food & Family meal. Two chocolate layers, each covered with Nutella, slathered with homemade whip cream and topped with sliced strawberries. What a way to end the meal.

 

 

Thank you to all who made this meal possible. Judy Sanders, Jami Jones, Alison Fleming and myself, Karen. Tina Sanders, Jennifer Fisher, Beth Thomas we missed you today. But, next month will be a new gathering.

 

I hope everyone enjoys reading about our monthly gatherings. We look forward to getting together each month. Food brings together family and friends in a special way.

 

Until next time.....

 

 

 Jami

 Me, Karen

  Alison

 

missed picture of Judy :(  Next time Judy.