One thing that I actually can do, and do relatively well, is bake bread. My bread baking repertoire is limited, consisting mainly of various white and wheat loaf breads; the kind of bread good for sandwiches, toast, and Nutella (mmmm).
The most challenging thing about baking bread is the waiting. Sure, you have to keep things in proportion, and make sure that nothing gets too hot (or else it will kill the yeast), but most bread recipes now take all of that into consideration, and you can use ready-packaged yeast, so even the rising is more assured.
I was reading a book a few months ago, and this particular section was set in pre-Revolutionary War America (pre- by a year or two), and the wife commented that they were having flat bread for dinner because the bread didn't rise. The words all made sense to me. I know what unrisen bread is. I know proofing/letting bread rise takes time. I know that you can kill the yeast, so the bread won't rise, but was a little baffled at the why and how behind this comment (nevermind the time travel or modern people living in the mid- to late- 1700s, I was hung up on the bread baking). Then, somewhere in the text, another seemingly throwaway line about leaving dough out/vats of beer out to collect wild yeast flipped my mental light switch to the "on" position. I'm so used to my little packets of yeast, or even seeing those jars that I didn't even think about what wall would be involved in making a yeast bread then.
So, I suppose I should remedy my "the hardest thing" statement to reference working with yeast.
Especially since I think I committed my first mass murder of yeast last week. I was working with a wheat recipe, with which I have had past and recent success, where you heat oil (or butter, in my case), water, and honey to warm before adding it to some of the flour, mixed with dry milk, salt, and yeast. I think I let the honeyed water heat up too much. Instead of just letting it be warm enough, I had to try to perfect, and ended up with too warm. Result: dead yeast, dough that never doubled in bulk, and dense loaves.
Now that I think about it, I wonder if I remembered the salt - that could have affected the rising, too.
I also kneaded a lot more than I usually do.
I ended up with these loaves that were about half to three-fourths as high as they should have been, and that didn't quite fill the entire breadth of the pan. Also, after the proofing, I took the smallest loaf, and divided it up and made into rolls. The rolls were an interesting experiment, and provided a very filling breakfast for the next day
I haven't really done sweet breads, quick breads, salt-rising, or sourdough breads. Have you?
Monday, April 12, 2010
Friday, April 9, 2010
Use less printer ink, by changing...
...the font.
Century Gothic will use less ink, but possibly more paper... discuss. Here's the article.
Blogger doesn't have Century Gothic as an option, but it is a perfectly fine looking sans-serif font. If you don't know, something like Arial(mnop) is a sans-serif font, where as Georgia(mnop) is a serif font. Those little horizontal lines at the top and bottom of letters make a difference in how we see the letters, the spacing, and even how easy it is to read on paper versus the screen. Since starting work at the university, I've learned that I prefer serif fonts, but that sans-serif are easier to read on the computer screen (so says our tech-and-tech-teaching department).
One point raised by the article is that because the space allotted to each letter in Century Gothic is more than in other fonts, the same amount of text in CG will take more paper than it would in Arial. If your one page document becomes a two pager in CG - does the extra piece of paper negate your ink savings?
This is a very fair question, but I think that changing things like margins, and font size, and using double-sided printing can alleviate this problem, in most situations. Also, this answer depends on the type of paper you use. Is it recycled? How much of it is recycled? Is it sustainably produced?
I know that personally, I can only focus on changing one or two things at a time. So I sometimes fall into the "can't see the forest for the trees" problem. I am so focused on being green and/or frugal about one item, that I forget to consider other items or habits, or what the carbon backstory of my green/frugal item is.
That is what this sort of feels like. Use less ink or less paper? Can't we do both?
This whole greening up our lives is a slow-process for us. Replacing one product or habit at a time, instead of pitching everything we have now, and spending the money to buy all 'new.' The slow approach makes sense, but it can make it difficult to see progress sometimes.
And it can make the slip ups even more pronounced. For instance, we needed to buy toothpaste. We were at the local co-op, and were prepared to plunk down some money for said toothpaste. We were a bit anxious to go ahead and get out of the store, so we picked up the cheapest one. I didn't look at the label close enough. There was no fluoride (not a huge deal to meal, I can take it or leave it, but husband prefers fluoride). Then I actually read the ingredients, and there was SLS!! (sodium laurel/laureth sulfate) The thing that I was actually trying to avoid! Sure, it was way down on the list of ingredients, instead of being second or third. Still, I was crushed.
(Why am I avoiding SLS, which is as pervasive as high fructose corn syrup? Because it is in everything, and isn't as safe as I'd like. It really does deserve a post of its own; one that I haven't found the time to write, yet. Here are some more random links, though: Crunch Chickens' SLS-free toothpaste search; from Wise Geek; natural health info site has some info on it; and from Tom's of Maine (at the bottom of the page. Here's the other side of things from snopes.com.)
Ok, back to the paper and ink. What are your thoughts on the less-ink-font issue? Are you in favor of switching over your default font and sizing to save both ink and paper?
Century Gothic will use less ink, but possibly more paper... discuss. Here's the article.
Blogger doesn't have Century Gothic as an option, but it is a perfectly fine looking sans-serif font. If you don't know, something like Arial(mnop) is a sans-serif font, where as Georgia(mnop) is a serif font. Those little horizontal lines at the top and bottom of letters make a difference in how we see the letters, the spacing, and even how easy it is to read on paper versus the screen. Since starting work at the university, I've learned that I prefer serif fonts, but that sans-serif are easier to read on the computer screen (so says our tech-and-tech-teaching department).
One point raised by the article is that because the space allotted to each letter in Century Gothic is more than in other fonts, the same amount of text in CG will take more paper than it would in Arial. If your one page document becomes a two pager in CG - does the extra piece of paper negate your ink savings?
This is a very fair question, but I think that changing things like margins, and font size, and using double-sided printing can alleviate this problem, in most situations. Also, this answer depends on the type of paper you use. Is it recycled? How much of it is recycled? Is it sustainably produced?
I know that personally, I can only focus on changing one or two things at a time. So I sometimes fall into the "can't see the forest for the trees" problem. I am so focused on being green and/or frugal about one item, that I forget to consider other items or habits, or what the carbon backstory of my green/frugal item is.
That is what this sort of feels like. Use less ink or less paper? Can't we do both?
This whole greening up our lives is a slow-process for us. Replacing one product or habit at a time, instead of pitching everything we have now, and spending the money to buy all 'new.' The slow approach makes sense, but it can make it difficult to see progress sometimes.
And it can make the slip ups even more pronounced. For instance, we needed to buy toothpaste. We were at the local co-op, and were prepared to plunk down some money for said toothpaste. We were a bit anxious to go ahead and get out of the store, so we picked up the cheapest one. I didn't look at the label close enough. There was no fluoride (not a huge deal to meal, I can take it or leave it, but husband prefers fluoride). Then I actually read the ingredients, and there was SLS!! (sodium laurel/laureth sulfate) The thing that I was actually trying to avoid! Sure, it was way down on the list of ingredients, instead of being second or third. Still, I was crushed.
(Why am I avoiding SLS, which is as pervasive as high fructose corn syrup? Because it is in everything, and isn't as safe as I'd like. It really does deserve a post of its own; one that I haven't found the time to write, yet. Here are some more random links, though: Crunch Chickens' SLS-free toothpaste search; from Wise Geek; natural health info site has some info on it; and from Tom's of Maine (at the bottom of the page. Here's the other side of things from snopes.com.)
Ok, back to the paper and ink. What are your thoughts on the less-ink-font issue? Are you in favor of switching over your default font and sizing to save both ink and paper?
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Recipe Thursday: Sweet Potato Fries
I love sweet potatoes. They are so rich in flavor, and generally good for you, too. There are a few mid-range steakhouses where sweet potatoes are a regular side, and sweet potato fries are popping up on more and more menus, substitutable for regular fries.
Fried food is still fried food, so you do need to consider that if you are out and considering your side options. At home, though, you have more control. Personally, I don't have a fryer, and don't really ever have enough oil, or the right kind of oil on hand for frying. But, no bother, fries can be made in the oven.
The first time I did sweet potato fries, I followed a recipe from the Food Network's website. Since I didn't print it out, I've been dredging my memory, and cobbling together recipes from other sources to create a workable sweet potato oven fry.
In this quest, I've burnt more than a few sweet potato sticks...
Here's a basic recipe upon which you can build and with which you can play:
Preheat oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.
Wash two sweet potatoes (or however many you want, since I'm generally cooking for 2, two potatoes works), and cut into roughly sticks. (think thick carrot sticks)
Toss in up to 1 tbsp. olive oil. Salt to taste, if desired. Spread on a backing sheet. You want one layer of sweet potato sticks, so if you have a smaller oven or more potatoes, you may need to do this in batches.
Bake 30-40 minutes, tossing the fries occasionally. My oven doesn't heat very evenly, so at 40 minutes, I've been burning a few of the thinner pieces.
Several recipes I saw say to pat excess moisture off the fries before baking. This will help the exterior to crisp up. I've often neglected this step, and ended up with soft, tasty, and slightly crisp fries that are more reminiscent of roasted veggies than fries I'd get at a restaurant. Still very tasty.
Fried food is still fried food, so you do need to consider that if you are out and considering your side options. At home, though, you have more control. Personally, I don't have a fryer, and don't really ever have enough oil, or the right kind of oil on hand for frying. But, no bother, fries can be made in the oven.
The first time I did sweet potato fries, I followed a recipe from the Food Network's website. Since I didn't print it out, I've been dredging my memory, and cobbling together recipes from other sources to create a workable sweet potato oven fry.
In this quest, I've burnt more than a few sweet potato sticks...
Here's a basic recipe upon which you can build and with which you can play:
Preheat oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.
Wash two sweet potatoes (or however many you want, since I'm generally cooking for 2, two potatoes works), and cut into roughly sticks. (think thick carrot sticks)
Toss in up to 1 tbsp. olive oil. Salt to taste, if desired. Spread on a backing sheet. You want one layer of sweet potato sticks, so if you have a smaller oven or more potatoes, you may need to do this in batches.
Bake 30-40 minutes, tossing the fries occasionally. My oven doesn't heat very evenly, so at 40 minutes, I've been burning a few of the thinner pieces.
Several recipes I saw say to pat excess moisture off the fries before baking. This will help the exterior to crisp up. I've often neglected this step, and ended up with soft, tasty, and slightly crisp fries that are more reminiscent of roasted veggies than fries I'd get at a restaurant. Still very tasty.
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Books and books and more! part dos
Because yesterday's entry started to get long, I chopped it up...
So to continue:
Even if you aren't a big fan of going to the library, or your local system doesn't have the best selection, don't despair! You, too, can re-use, and recycle books, and read them on a semi-permanent basis! In addition to simply swapping with friends (who knows your taste better than some good friends), you can also use internet sites, like PaperBack Swap. In the interest of full disclosure, my friends, local libraries, and own book-buying habits keep my To Be Read pile well-stocked, so I haven't used this myself, but do have friends who have used this site with success.
PaperBack Swap is pretty straight forward (there's a neat tutorial here). Basically, you list what books you want to swap out, get two credits for listing your first ten, and use those credits to request books to be sent to you. Everyone pays postage to send books, but not to receive. So, there is some money involved, but much less than buying books, especially new.
One potential problem I've heard of is that it can be difficult to get some of the more popular books this way. A friend waited a long time for a Sookie Stackhouse novel to come available, and not be snatched up before she could get to it.
Patience is required, but the same situation often arises with using the library.
Again, while I have not used paperbackswap.com, I do have a mini-swap set up with a friend still in NC. It is so exciting to come home to find a package filled with book-goodies from her. If you set up an informal swap with friends, near or far, you can try new books, and new genres that you haven't tried before, and experience a whole new world of books.
Books!
I like'em!
What about you?
Monday, April 5, 2010
Books and books and more!
I like to read. I love getting lost in a world not my own, and experiencing something new. Over the years, this love of reading, and being in college and university have only grown my book collection. While there are books that I do re-read, and some that are helpful, the vast majority are books that I will probably never read again, and have just been lugging from place to place (or, having my husband lug from place to place - I do carry a few of the boxes!)
Even though I love books, and being surrounded by books and the choices that provides, is amassing a collection to rival the Library of Congress (I kid) really the best use of my space, resources, and time. Probably not, especially when you consider that when I get on a reading-streak, I can clear a thousand pages in a day or two (depending on the subject).
In college, I often sold books back through amazon.com or half.com. I was often able to figure it so that the commission they charged was roughly equal to the shipping allowance, and then ship the books media mail, turning a profit over what the bookstore would give me. I was also selling back science and math books, not the novels I was enjoying for my major.
About a year ago, I culled a couple dozen books from my collection, and put them up on these sites to sell. This time, the commission sometimes was higher than the shipping allowance, but since these were novels, I couldn't raise the price too much. By the time the book sold, the commission was taken out, and I shipped it, I think I was lucky to have made 50 cents off a book. At that point, I may as well have donated them.
A lot of my books didn't sell, because I was pricing them to make at least some sort of a profit off of them. I haven't tried this since. I do still have many books that I do need to purge from my shelves, but am having a hard time getting past the "But I might need them, in the future!" Unfortunately, I am a bit of a pack-rat.
After graduate school, I was enjoying not having to read anything, but after about 6 months, my love of reading was rekindled, and I rediscovered the joys of the library (and librarians). I have memories of going to the library on a regular basis with my mom and sister when I was little. I remember roaming the children's section, and climbing on the carpeted step-seats, reading. I used the library a lot as an undergraduate and graduate student, for books, internet access, and films (and a place to view films!). But, somehow, in my post-grad life, I'd forgotten about it. Plus, I am always a little frightened that I won't finish a book before the due date.
I made friends who would lend me books, and I started reading library books again. Visiting the library can be like a shopping high plus Christmas... you walk out, arms loaded with all these new and exciting books, yet you didn't have to spend a dime (unless, of course, you had to pay a fine). And you can keep borrowing! (Just don't forget to return them).
In NC, I was fortunate enough to be friends with an Assistant Librarian, who helped me to navigate everything, like reserving a copy of a new book, or requesting a book that was currently out. That does necessitate you wanting a specific book. Part of the fun of a library is the browsing, I think. Getting lost in the dust jacket descriptions is amazing (sort of like sometimes, the previews are the best part of the movie).
Now, I am fortunate to be in a university (where, as staff, I can check out books for a looooong time), and have access to all books in the university catalog, although, I may have to wait for a book to be delivered to my local branch. I am also in a county with a superb library system. Score!
Are you a fan of your local library?
Even though I love books, and being surrounded by books and the choices that provides, is amassing a collection to rival the Library of Congress (I kid) really the best use of my space, resources, and time. Probably not, especially when you consider that when I get on a reading-streak, I can clear a thousand pages in a day or two (depending on the subject).
In college, I often sold books back through amazon.com or half.com. I was often able to figure it so that the commission they charged was roughly equal to the shipping allowance, and then ship the books media mail, turning a profit over what the bookstore would give me. I was also selling back science and math books, not the novels I was enjoying for my major.
About a year ago, I culled a couple dozen books from my collection, and put them up on these sites to sell. This time, the commission sometimes was higher than the shipping allowance, but since these were novels, I couldn't raise the price too much. By the time the book sold, the commission was taken out, and I shipped it, I think I was lucky to have made 50 cents off a book. At that point, I may as well have donated them.
A lot of my books didn't sell, because I was pricing them to make at least some sort of a profit off of them. I haven't tried this since. I do still have many books that I do need to purge from my shelves, but am having a hard time getting past the "But I might need them, in the future!" Unfortunately, I am a bit of a pack-rat.
After graduate school, I was enjoying not having to read anything, but after about 6 months, my love of reading was rekindled, and I rediscovered the joys of the library (and librarians). I have memories of going to the library on a regular basis with my mom and sister when I was little. I remember roaming the children's section, and climbing on the carpeted step-seats, reading. I used the library a lot as an undergraduate and graduate student, for books, internet access, and films (and a place to view films!). But, somehow, in my post-grad life, I'd forgotten about it. Plus, I am always a little frightened that I won't finish a book before the due date.
I made friends who would lend me books, and I started reading library books again. Visiting the library can be like a shopping high plus Christmas... you walk out, arms loaded with all these new and exciting books, yet you didn't have to spend a dime (unless, of course, you had to pay a fine). And you can keep borrowing! (Just don't forget to return them).
In NC, I was fortunate enough to be friends with an Assistant Librarian, who helped me to navigate everything, like reserving a copy of a new book, or requesting a book that was currently out. That does necessitate you wanting a specific book. Part of the fun of a library is the browsing, I think. Getting lost in the dust jacket descriptions is amazing (sort of like sometimes, the previews are the best part of the movie).
Now, I am fortunate to be in a university (where, as staff, I can check out books for a looooong time), and have access to all books in the university catalog, although, I may have to wait for a book to be delivered to my local branch. I am also in a county with a superb library system. Score!
Are you a fan of your local library?
Friday, April 2, 2010
What not to buy... in bulk?
Most of us in the US have seen or shopped in a big box store. I'd wager to say that a majority have also step foot in the big club stores (like Sam's Club, Costco, BJs and so on). Anecdotally, I gather that you used to actually be a small business of some sort and pay a fee to gain membership and the privilege of buying mondo boxes of pretzels, mints, paper towels and toilet paper. Now, anyone can go in, sign up, pay their fee, and shop the bulk aisles. As far as I know, there are still perks or extra discounts (or something) for actual business owners.
If memory serves, about 10 years ago, it seems that it was only businesses and Y2Kers who were buying in bulk. (Ok, so maybe 11 years for the Y2Kers - can you believe it has been that long!) Buying a small surplus of staples so you didn't run out, or having a decent pantry wasn't outrageous, but having 96 rolls of toilet paper in a home, or the tub of mayo as large as a house plant was.
I'm sure exactly when the shift happened, and I think that it may have pre-dated the economic recession, but now, buying in bulk is all the rage. (I will also admit that it could be as simple as me not being aware of the phenomena earlier.) We think that buying the larger bottle of something is automatically saving us money. More is more. People will stroll Costco on Saturday afternoons with their family, making a meal out of the samples.
And going right along with that were the articles and tips for shopping in bulk. A lot of these tips are really just transferred over from the grocery store, or coupon shopping. If you wouldn't buy it without the coupon/in a smaller amount, don't buy it with the coupon/in bulk. Don't buy more than you can use before it spoils. Think about the space you have, and don't buy what won't fit.
Recently, I came across this article about what not to buy in bulk.
Did you know that brown rice has a shorter shelf life than does white? I didn't. (The article doesn't provide a timeline.)
And the note about not buying candy in bulk because then you are just more likely to eat more. Yeah - done that. Extra calories taken in and extra money spent. Not good.
Things like nuts, condiments, and vitamins should be purchased in reasonable quantities, as they will spoil. Of course, if you are going to a pot-luck, or donating to a soup kitchen, then super-sized condiments may actually be used up quickly.
The article also cautions against buying paper towels, toilet paper and diapers in bulk. For diapers, it is because you never know when the baby will grow, rendering the diapers too small. I think that the "buy what you can use in a reasonable time" rule of thumb is helpful here. Of course, if Junior has an unexpected growth spurt, donating or gifting to someone else who has a little one is a way of keeping the extra diapers from taking over your home. Still doesn't recompense you for spending on diapers you couldn't use. (If you decide to clothe diaper, I imagine this is a moot point. Do cloth diapers have 'sizes?')
The article's main qualm with buying PT and TP in bulk is storage. While it is wise not to let these paper products over-run your life, I think that this isn't the best reason to include PT and TP on a grand list of what not to buy in bulk. There are ways to find extra storage. Above the fridge, under the bed, that shelf in the closet no one can reach easily. That being said, I'm not advocating renting a storage unit so you can save 10 cents a roll on TP, or that you buy more than will fit in your house. Of course, if you have hoarding tendencies, you probably should avoid the bulk warehouses.
Really, I just wanted to share this article, and throw my 2 cents in about paper products. I do know the alluring siren's call of the warehouse store. Sometimes, my eyes glaze slightly at the sight, but I just have to remember that we have a budget, both of money and space, and that just because it is bulk, doesn't mean I am actually getting more for my money, saving money, or that I should buy it.
How do you feel about warehouse stores?
If memory serves, about 10 years ago, it seems that it was only businesses and Y2Kers who were buying in bulk. (Ok, so maybe 11 years for the Y2Kers - can you believe it has been that long!) Buying a small surplus of staples so you didn't run out, or having a decent pantry wasn't outrageous, but having 96 rolls of toilet paper in a home, or the tub of mayo as large as a house plant was.
I'm sure exactly when the shift happened, and I think that it may have pre-dated the economic recession, but now, buying in bulk is all the rage. (I will also admit that it could be as simple as me not being aware of the phenomena earlier.) We think that buying the larger bottle of something is automatically saving us money. More is more. People will stroll Costco on Saturday afternoons with their family, making a meal out of the samples.
And going right along with that were the articles and tips for shopping in bulk. A lot of these tips are really just transferred over from the grocery store, or coupon shopping. If you wouldn't buy it without the coupon/in a smaller amount, don't buy it with the coupon/in bulk. Don't buy more than you can use before it spoils. Think about the space you have, and don't buy what won't fit.
Recently, I came across this article about what not to buy in bulk.
Did you know that brown rice has a shorter shelf life than does white? I didn't. (The article doesn't provide a timeline.)
And the note about not buying candy in bulk because then you are just more likely to eat more. Yeah - done that. Extra calories taken in and extra money spent. Not good.
Things like nuts, condiments, and vitamins should be purchased in reasonable quantities, as they will spoil. Of course, if you are going to a pot-luck, or donating to a soup kitchen, then super-sized condiments may actually be used up quickly.
The article also cautions against buying paper towels, toilet paper and diapers in bulk. For diapers, it is because you never know when the baby will grow, rendering the diapers too small. I think that the "buy what you can use in a reasonable time" rule of thumb is helpful here. Of course, if Junior has an unexpected growth spurt, donating or gifting to someone else who has a little one is a way of keeping the extra diapers from taking over your home. Still doesn't recompense you for spending on diapers you couldn't use. (If you decide to clothe diaper, I imagine this is a moot point. Do cloth diapers have 'sizes?')
The article's main qualm with buying PT and TP in bulk is storage. While it is wise not to let these paper products over-run your life, I think that this isn't the best reason to include PT and TP on a grand list of what not to buy in bulk. There are ways to find extra storage. Above the fridge, under the bed, that shelf in the closet no one can reach easily. That being said, I'm not advocating renting a storage unit so you can save 10 cents a roll on TP, or that you buy more than will fit in your house. Of course, if you have hoarding tendencies, you probably should avoid the bulk warehouses.
Really, I just wanted to share this article, and throw my 2 cents in about paper products. I do know the alluring siren's call of the warehouse store. Sometimes, my eyes glaze slightly at the sight, but I just have to remember that we have a budget, both of money and space, and that just because it is bulk, doesn't mean I am actually getting more for my money, saving money, or that I should buy it.
How do you feel about warehouse stores?
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Recipe Thursday: Meatloaf
I grew up half-knowing what my parents used to make meatloaf. Not everything, or proportions, just that worcestershire sauce, egg, spices, and oatmeal played a part, along with ground beef. In making it myself, I've added and subtracted, and made plenty of my own mistakes, some of which lead to crumbly-because-it-is-dry meatloaf or crumbly-because-it-is-too-wet-meatloaf. Go me.
Hehe. Even through all the trials, I still don't know what all of the proportions are. But here you have a rough meatloaf recipe that has seen me through:
Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Have 1 lb ground meat [beef, chicken, turkey, whatever you have, we tend towards chicken] thawed.
In your bowl, combine 1 egg, up to a tablespoon of italian seasoning [give or take, as always], about a tablespoon of worcestershire sauce, one or two squeezes of ketchup, and a scant quarter cup of oatmeal [I have the rolled oat, not instant!!!]. These are all things that I tend to have on hand, and can easily be swapped out for other things. No worcestershire, use soy sauce, in moderation. No italian seasoning? Use oregano, basil, and most anything else you do have. No ketchup? No loss, use tomato paste if you have it. No oatmeal? Do you have instant potatoes, or breadcrumbs?
Mix.
Add the thawed meat. [I usually use the same fork I used to mix the other ingredients together to sort of break up the meat as I add it]
You're supposed to mush it all together with your hands, but I don't always want to do that. So, I use the fork to mix it all together.
I pat it all into a loaf pan, and smooth the top. I also squeeze ketchup on the top, because my husband really likes that. A loaf this size will cook in about 30 minutes at 350 Fahrenheit. If you want to make a larger loaf, just add time [and seasoning!].
How do you feel about meatloaf? Do you have a beloved family recipe that you swear by? Or have you sworn off the stuff?
Hehe. Even through all the trials, I still don't know what all of the proportions are. But here you have a rough meatloaf recipe that has seen me through:
Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Have 1 lb ground meat [beef, chicken, turkey, whatever you have, we tend towards chicken] thawed.
In your bowl, combine 1 egg, up to a tablespoon of italian seasoning [give or take, as always], about a tablespoon of worcestershire sauce, one or two squeezes of ketchup, and a scant quarter cup of oatmeal [I have the rolled oat, not instant!!!]. These are all things that I tend to have on hand, and can easily be swapped out for other things. No worcestershire, use soy sauce, in moderation. No italian seasoning? Use oregano, basil, and most anything else you do have. No ketchup? No loss, use tomato paste if you have it. No oatmeal? Do you have instant potatoes, or breadcrumbs?
Mix.
Add the thawed meat. [I usually use the same fork I used to mix the other ingredients together to sort of break up the meat as I add it]
You're supposed to mush it all together with your hands, but I don't always want to do that. So, I use the fork to mix it all together.
I pat it all into a loaf pan, and smooth the top. I also squeeze ketchup on the top, because my husband really likes that. A loaf this size will cook in about 30 minutes at 350 Fahrenheit. If you want to make a larger loaf, just add time [and seasoning!].
How do you feel about meatloaf? Do you have a beloved family recipe that you swear by? Or have you sworn off the stuff?
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