Dinner With Friends

It's one of life's simple pleasures right?


We have dinner with the neighbors fairly often.  Have since we moved here.  It's one of the things that makes living here great.


We were going to have crock pot meatloaf.  It's a comfort food favorite of mine.  My Mom used to make it when we were growing up.  It was good on the table that night, and just as good (maybe better?) the next day as a meatloaf sandwich.  This was Autumn's first time, and it was mighty tasty.  Good Job Honey!



Now, I know.  Some of you are saying meatloaf?  Blech!  But trust me, this meatloaf is different. The recipe comes from Mable Hoffman's Crockery Cookery- the original, not revised edition.  And that's important.  Mostly because it means it was written before we knew how bad food could be.  So this recipe makes no attempt at being healthy.  Therefore, it's wicked good.  Like Julia said, the flavor's in the fat.  Don't worry, I'll share.


Anyway, like I said, we already had dinner planned when the invite came.  But with these kind of friends, that doesn't matter.  We just brought the quivering round of deliciousness formerly known as ground beef with us.  Everybody dug in.  Tucking it to 'em as they say up here.  Dinner with friends is even more enjoyable when the friends are down to earth kind of folks who would never turn up their noses at pedestrian fare like meatloaf.  And the rest of the food was great as well.  


It was nice, as always.  The boys played with the new puppy for a bit.  And then spent some time in time out for playing to rough with the puppy.  I really enjoyed watching them play with the baby.  Elliott seemed really fascinated.  Every time I looked to check on him, he'd be having a conversation with the baby.  I couldn't understand what they were saying, but they were talking up a storm.


I guess that's the difference between dinner with friends and a dinner party.  With friends, the conversation is pretty easy and laid back.  I don't even have to hear or understand half of it.  No one really has to host and make sure all are included.  Dinner parties require more effort because you may not know everyone.  Or the conversation may be more upscale than say... zombies and Velveeta.  Dinner parties require those nice pants.  The ones that are probably less comfortable than your jeans, definitely less comfortable than you would like (especially if the food is good).  Dinner parties include wine served in the proper glass.  Dinner with friends can also include wine, but it probably comes from a big jug that's been out on the porch to stay cold.


I guess you can tell my preference is for dinner with friends.  Especially when it's dinner with really good friends like these.




The Recipe:
Meat Loaf-
2 eggs, beaten
3/4 cup milk
2/3 cup fine dry bread crumbs
2 tablespoons grated onion
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground sage
1 1/2 pounds ground beef


Sauce-
1/4 cup ketchup
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 teaspoon dry mustard (don't get cheap, use Coleman's)
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg


1.  Mix all the meat loaf ingredients together in a big bowl.  I find using my hands is easiest, just make sure you wash them well first.


2.  Shape the meaty goodness into a 9x5 rectangle or oval.  Or a 6 inch round log.  Don't get crazy, just shape it to make sure it will cook evenly.  Lower your meat baby into the crock pot.


3.  Cook on low for 5 to 6 hours.  Don't worry, it won't dry out.


4.  At this point, if there is a bunch of liquid at the bottom, I like to get rid of some.  I just suck some out with a turkey baster.  Not all of it (remember, the flavor is in the fat), but enough so the meat baby isn't swimming.


5.  In a small bowl, combine your sauce ingredients.  Pour the sauce over the meat baby.


6.  Replace the cover, and cook on high for about 15 minutes.  During this 15 minute covered  high temperature cooking period, your meat baby will grow up.  At the end of 15 minutes, you now have meat loaf.  Slice and serve while it's hot.


7.  The next day, slice the leftovers and make meatloaf sandwiches.  With ketchup.