Meatloaf

This is an old Betty Crocker recipe I've been making for years. It is a standard in our house.

1 1/2 pounds ground meat (beef or turkey)
3/4 cup oats
1 egg
1 cup milk
1 small onion chopped small
1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp dry mustard
1/4 tsp rubbed sage
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/2 cup ketchup or barbecue (BBQ) sauce

Mix all ingredients except ketchup or BBQ sauce.

Spread mixture in loaf pan

and top with ketchup or BBQ sauce.

Bake uncovered in a 350 degree oven for one hour and about 10 to 15 minutes.

Remove from oven and let sit for a few minutes. Slice and serve.

Makes about 6-8 servings.


Veggie meatloaf: Increase salt to 1 1/2 tsp. Mix in one small green bell pepper, chopped, 1 medium carrot, shredded, and about 4-6 medium mushrooms, chopped. Omit ketchup/BBQ sauce. During the last five minutes of baking time, take it out of the oven and put tomato slices on top, then put it back in the oven to finish cooking.

Mac & Cheese from a Box

Yes, this is a recipe for the macaroni and cheese that you make from a boxed mix. We add our own flair.

any variety

1 box mac & cheese, any variety
2 tbsp butter
1/4 cup 2% milk
garlic powder
1 cup frozen peas or frozen corn or a combination of both OR 1 small bunch of fresh broccoli, cut up
4 hot dogs cut into chunks OR the equivalent amount of meat of your choice, such as cooked chicken or beef, or sliced and fried sausage

Boil water and cook pasta per package directions.

according to package directions

After pasta is cooked but BEFORE DRAINING, place veggies in pot for two minutes. Also place hot dogs in pot at the same time, also for two minutes. If using other meats, wait and put in for last minute only, just to heat up.



cheese, milk, butter, veg

Drain pasta, veggies and meat.

While they are still in the colander, put butter, milk, cheese and garlic powder in pot and stir to mix and melt butter. Add pasta, veggies and meat back into pot and stir to thoroughly mix.

Serve in bowls and enjoy.

last 2 minutes, veg in

Vegetarian Option: Instead of meat, if you want a vegetarian version, you can use TVP. Take about 1/4 cup of TVP and put in a mug and cover with about and inch or two of boiling water. You can use the water from the pot the pasta is boiling in. Just take some of the boiling water out of the pot before adding the pasta and put in a separate container with the TVP. It will hydrate in about the length of time it takes to cook the pasta. Drain it on top of the pasta in the colander. Mix in with all the other ingredients in the pot.



butter, milk, cheese in pot

Flavor Options: Try different flavors and spices to change it up. For example, try some chili powder or a mixed flavoring like an Italian herb mix. Also try other flavoring mixes like the variety of Mrs. Dash products. Just don't use anything that's salty because most mac & cheese mixes are already quite salty.


stir and enjoy!