hahabogus wrote:


> Seems you get more cooking posts on topic if sheldon detractors=20
> were killfiled than if you killfiled sheldon.
>=20
> Sure his manners stink. His language is foul. But after you hear that m=
ore=20
> than 20 times a day it gets boring. Now can we get on with life?
>=20
> I would like to create a rule...If you want to moan, complain or react =
to=20
> Sheldon...To get people to listen there should be a Tax...A one origina=
l=20
> recipe Tax...A recipe never posted hear before.
>=20
> This one recipe would allow a one post rant of choice. No recipe No Ran=
t.
> Simplicity.=20

Ok, I'll start on my backlog assuming that I'm already in debt for=20
recipes. Here's a start on the idea. A column I wrote a while back.

Just loafing along, meating new friends
It all started when a curmudgeonly acquaintance mentioned that his=20
birthday was coming up and he just knew that there would be a cake and=20
all the rest of the sweets that go with it. He hates sweets. A real=20
meat and potatoes guy is he. He said he'd rather have a meat cake.=20
Suited his disposition better, he said.
I thought about that. Why not? Lessee. Birthday cakes are usually=20
a couple layers with some sort of filling between and frosting on the=20
outside. A meat cake? No problem.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MEAT CAKE
Two layers of =93cake=94 with a =93filling=94 and a lovely =93frosting.=94=
What=20
else could you ask for? The first 8 ingredients are a good, basic=20
meatloaf recipe. We'll see other places to use it later.
Serves 8 or 10.
3 pounds ground beef
1 pound ground pork
2 cups catsup
3 cups bread crumbs
1 medium onion, finely chopped
6 eggs
1 teaspoon salt
1/ 2 teaspoon pepper
2 cake pans, round, 8 or 9 inches
5 pounds of potatoes, peeled and diced
1 stick butter
1 cup of half-and-half
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 pound bacon, cooked and drained
Heat oven to 350. Combine meats, catsup, crumbs and eggs and divide=20
in half. Pat the meat into the cake pans to make two flat meatloaves=20
and bake for 45 minutes. Boil potatoes in lightly salted water for=20
20 minutes and drain well. Mash potatoes with butter and cream for=20
frosting. The potatoes should be smooth. Assemble the layer cake=20
beginning with a layer of meat. Put most of the cheese and bacon over=20
top. Cover with the other meat loaf. Frost the =93cake=94 with the=20
mashed potatoes. You might want to pipe some attractive design on the=20
cake. Artfully sprinkle the remaining cheese and bacon over top. A=20
few candles and you're ready to go.

MY GRANDMOTHER'S STUFFED MEAT LOAF
Serves 8
2 pounds ground beef
1 pound ground pork
3/4 cup tomato sauce, divided
=BD teaspoon oregano
1 cup bread crumbs
1/4 cup milk
2 tablespoons red wine
1/4 pound ham, sliced very thin
1/4 pound mozzarella cheese, sliced
1 bunch broccoli, trimmed, cut into 1-inch pieces and boiled for 5=20
minutes
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Heat oven to 350. Combine meats, 1/4 cup tomato sauce, oregano,=20
crumbs, milk and wine and mix well. Lay out a piece of wax paper or=20
aluminum foil about 24 inches long. Spread the meat mixture on the=20
foil to a 10x16 inch rectangle. Lay the sliced ham on the meat=20
leaving an inch all around. Same with the cheese. Drain the broccoli=20
well and spread it on top. Lifting the edge of the foil, roll the=20
meat loaf jellyroll-style. Pinch the edges gently to seal. Put the=20
loaf on a broiler pan and bake at 350 degrees for 1 =BD hours brushing=20
periodically with remaining tomato sauce. Let rest for 10 minutes and=20
slice for service.
She made them different every time. Here are some variations: ground=20
beef, veal and pork mixed together. Sometimes, she added a half-cup=20
of ricotta cheese. Other times, she'd run a line of hard-cooked eggs=20
down the center. Red peppers. Fried onions. Leftover veggies.

FOILED AGAIN MEAT LOAF IN CABBAGE LEAVES
And here's one you can do on your grill.
Serves 8
Meat recipe from =93cake=94 divided into 8 portions
8 cabbage leaves
8 slices of cheddar cheese
8 slices of onion
Cut 4 (1 foot) squares of heavy duty foil. On each square, place a=20
large cabbage leaf. On top of the leaf, put 1 meat portion, a slice=20
of cheese and a slice of onion. Close the cabbage leaf over the meat=20
and wrap and seal in the foil. Cook 15-20 minutes over medium-high=20
gas flame in your grill. Add sliced mushrooms, peppers, pickles, hot=20
sauce or thin slices of potato.
Here are some tips for when you make your variations. A thick sauce=20
or glaze of ketchup, mustard, brown sugar, vinegar, water, salt and=20
pepper poured over top of a basic meat loaf adds good flavor and=20
moisture. Poke holes all along the top of the loaf before pouring on=20
the sauce so it gets down inside. Use a fork, the handle of a wooden=20
spoon, your thumb - whatever.
Form the meat in a ring mold, unmold onto a baking pan and bake for=20
45 or 50 minutes. Spoon off excess fat. Combine ketchup, sugar, and=20
mustard and spread over meat. Return to oven for 10 minutes to glaze.=20
Lift onto a tray for service. You can fill the center of the ring=20
with mashed potatoes or a bouquet of broccoli.
For adding flavors, vegetable purees are wonderful. Add a jar or two=20
of baby food to the basic mix. Carrots, peas, you can browse the=20
shelves. Or make your own from leftovers.
To make individual meat loaves, lightly butter a 6-cup muffin tin.=20
Divide the meat mixture among them. Put the muffin tin on a cookie=20
sheet and bake for 25 minutes or so. To serve, pour off fat. Cover=20
the muffin tin with a tray and gently invert to dislodge meat loaves.=20
Spoon sauce over.
For a German feel, add rye bread crumbs, some drained sauerkraut and=20
a teaspoon or so of caraway seed to the basic recipe at the top of the=20
article.
For a very different variation made from ground pork and/or poultry,=20
add chopped apples, cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg to the meat and baste=20
with apple juice.

RESURRECTED MEAT LOAF
2 tablespoons bread crumbs
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
1 egg, beaten
5 or 6 slices cooked meat loaf, 1/ 2 inch thick
Combine crumbs and cheese. Dip meat slices in egg. Coat with=20
cheese-crumb mixture. Cook meat in a little oil over medium heat=20
about 5 minutes per side.