LET'S TALK MEATLOAF

Meatloaf is a classic "cheap" meal.  People either love it or hate it.  But with all the varieties out there, there really is something for everyone.  Meatloaf can be topped with anything from ketchup to BBQ sauce.  There are even vegetarian versions.  Everything from chicken meatloaf to low carbohydrate meatloaf, meatloaf is a versatile main course.  I even found a website dedicated to meatloaf!  I am kind of a traditionalist, so the next recipe is for my favorite meatloaf recipe.   Traditionally, I make it with lean ground beef, but recently since my husband brought home an entire elk and put it in our freezer I have made it with Elk.  Elk is a wonderful meat, extremely lean which makes it a great diet food, but because of it's lean nature when using elk I add about 1/3 pound of lean ground beef to give it a little fat.  (If you would like to try Elk, many health food stores carry it in their meat department.)  So here is my favorite meatloaf recipe...

1 1/2 lb ground elk + 1/2 lb ground beef
or
2 lbs ground beef (extra lean)
1 1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
3/4 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper
1/2 cup chopped red bell pepper
2   egg, lightly beaten
1 14.5 ounces can diced tomatoes (without juice)
1 cup quick-cooking oats or 1 cup bread crumbs

Mix all ingredients together well.  Place in lightly greased cake pan and shape into a loaf.
Mix topping ingredients together.
Topping:
1 cup ketchup
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 1/2 tablespoon prepared mustard
Lightly brush over top of meatloaf and then bake for one hour.  Check for doneness, to test use a meat thermometer -- temperature should measure 160 degrees.  Pour rest of topping over the meatloaf and place in oven for an additional 10 minutes.

As a side note, I like to shape the loaf into a donut shape and then cook.  While the meatloaf is cooking I make my favorite mashed potatoes...

2 pounds potatoes diced and cooked until soft
1/2 cup light sour cream
2 Tbsp butter
1/2 cup skim milk
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1/4 cup crumbled bacon (optional)
Place all ingredients in a bowl and mash thoroughly.

When the meatloaf (donut) is done, I heap the mashed potatoes into the middle of the meatloaf.  It makes a fun potato bowl.  When my kids were little this was one of their favorite meals.  It looks like a meatloaf volcano with mashed potato lava on top... or snow covered mountain.