Fat Friday: Easy Meat Loaf

Before we get started, let me apologize. The following pictures can only be described as . . . um, gross. Which is unfortunate since it's food we're talkin' about.

Meat loaf is comfort food to me and the family. I always make the same side dishes, too - mashed potatoes and canned green beans. My own canned green beans, I might add.

So a little grossness is just the way of it when you're making meat loaf. You have to look to the future, when it's baking in the oven and making the house smell yummy. You have to anticipate the end-product instead of looking with horror upon the raw ingredients. Meat loaf needs trust, people. Trust! You will be rewarded with a tasty, easy supper and leftovers that make fabulous sandwiches.

Ready?

Here's what you need:

2 eggs

1 c. water

1/2 c. barbeque sauce

1-6 oz package stuffing mix - I like cornbread stuffing mix the best

2 lbs. hamburger

Mix everything except the hamburger in a huge bowl. Let the stuffing mix soften a bit.

I know, it looks like cat food.

Here's a handy-dandy tip for you - measure the 1 c. water first, then add barbeque sauce until the water level reaches 1-1/2 c. Doesn't this look appetizing? I'm not even going to say what it looks like because that would be gross. Professional food bloggers such as myself do NOT stoop to those levels.

Unless they're cleaning their bathrooms.

You knew I couldn't let that one slip past, didn't you?

Dump the hamburger in and start smooshing it up with your hands. Sorry folks, there's really no other way to do it. I guess you could use your mixer but it's possible to overmix this stuff. If you mix it too much it will get mushy. This makes it hard to hold together into slices, once it's cooked.

So, force yourself to get your hands in that gooey, cold raw meat mess and mix it up. Oh joy.

Put it in a pan and form it into a loaf shape. As you can see in the picture, I used an 8x8 Pyrex. I don't know why I did that - I usually use my 9x13. Must have been distracted. Or already drinking wine. I can't remember.

Drizzle some more barbeque sauce on the top and put in a 375 degree oven for an hour.

So, even though this looks like something you'd feed your cat, DON'T DO IT. It would be totally wasted on him. Plus, you'd miss out on the sandwiches tomorrow.

We love meat loaf in our house!

Trust me.