Meatloaf (And a Happy New Year)

Happy New Year everyone! Don’t you think that resolutions can be a boring way to start the year? On the other hand, goals are rarely a bad idea. A goal is just a plan, right? While a resolution feels more like a rule, clearly not as much fun. Not surprisingly, lots of my goals are food related, like actually making the recipes earmarked in cookbooks that we’ve been planning to try forever, and experimenting with new ingredients. A really big goal is to make more “user-friendly” meals meaning everyone in the family eats them and leftovers get repurposed or served again. With that in mind and the prospect of a cold rainy weekend, it’s hard to think of anything more comforting than homemade meatloaf. My favorite recipe has evolved over the years. Bread crumbs got replaced by panko and milk by buttermilk for that little tang. Garlic gives an extra boost and pancetta on top replaced bacon because – well – it stays on better and looks good. Meatloaf is sort of a versatile thing to begin with. Some people like a combo of beef and pork. Others like to add surprise ingredients like carrots and zucchini – which would not go down well here. We go with the basics, either ground beef or ground turkey. Personally, I like turkey, just not the super lean variety that is just too dry. It stands up well to all the seasoning and the taste is marvelous. If I’m cooking for a crowd, it’s fun to bake individual servings in muffin tins – lots more crispy edges to go around. Another plus- you can assemble a meatloaf ahead of time and bake when it’s dinner time. Everything goes with meatloaf. Mashed potatoes are classic, but a baked potato can work just as well. Green peas are so easy – just open a bag of frozen peas and barely heat them. If you feel fancy add a splash of sherry and a bit of butter. The list goes on and on. Same from a leftover point of view. A meatloaf sandwich either hot or cold is heavenly. When you get right down to it a meatloaf is just very nicely seasoned ground meat which is why siding it into tomato sauce for spaghetti or lasagna is a clear winner for a clever repurpose. Bottom line – nothing smells better cooking and on this rainy night it is just perfect. Make this for company – such an easy crowd pleaser, make it for your family, definitely make it for yourself. It will warm your new year right to your toes! Enjoy!

Meatloaf

Ingredients

2 lb ground beef or turkey

1 cup panko

1 cup buttermilk

2 eggs

1 onion, diced

2 cloves garlic, minced

1½ tsp salt

1 tsp oregano

1 tsp basil

½ tsp pepper (more to taste)

1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce

½ cup brown sugar

1 cup ketchup

1 tsp mustard

4-6 slices pancetta (or bacon)

DirectionsPreheat oven to 350 degrees.In a large bowl, mix together panko and buttermilk.

Mix in eggs, ground turkey or beef, onion, garlic, salt, oregano, basil, pepper, and Worcestershire sauce.

Shape into a loaf (your hands are the best tool to use) and place in a rimmed baking pan lined with foil.

Mix sugar, ketchup, and mustard and spread over meatloaf.

Top with pancetta.

Bake 1 hour and 15 minutes. (You may want to drain any excess liquid about half way through.)

Leftovers make great sandwiches!