My
Not-So-Secret Potluck Recipe
Mahalo
Meat Loaf
Main Ingredients:
1 lb. 70-80% Lean Ground Beef
1 pkg Saltine Cracker (Normally it comes with 2 or 4 pkg in PREMIUM cracker)
1 cup Chopped Round Onion
1 can 8 ox tomato sauce
Binding Agent:
1 egg
Seasoning:
2 tsp Pepper
2 tsp Italian Seasoning or Dried parsley
1 tsp Dried Oregano
2 tsp Dried Basil
NO SALT REQUIRED, as the saltine puts out a lot of salt
Procedures:
1- Crush the crackers by hand or chop in a blander until even. To yield the
same physical quantity as the ground beef.
2- Preheat oven at 400°F.
3- In a big bowl, mix all main ingredients and fold in seasoning.
4- The texture must be moist and doughy. Try to form a meatball and set it
on a plate. If it collapses, add more crushed cracker.
5- Form a loaf and place it on baking dish. Preferably with drip pan - so
the fat leaves meatloaf and makes it leaner.
6- Place the loaf in the center rack and reduce heat to 350°F. Bake at 45-60
minutes until the meat is done.
7- Pour some sauce on top and bake 5 minutes at 400°F.
Sauce:
1 can 8 ox tomato sauce
2 leaves Fresh Bay Leaves or 1 tsp dried Bay leaves
2 tsp Dried or Fresh Parsley
Dash Crushed red pepper (season to taste)
Do not start under high heat. Simmer and stir frequently until heated
through.
Dietary Alternatives:
Can't have Beef?
- Replace ground beef with ground turkey and add one Portuguese Sausage
Low Sodium Diet
- Use "No Salt" tomato sauce and "low sodium" crackers.
Can't have egg?
- Egg is a binding agent only. You can reduce chopped onion and tomato sauce
by adding a little at the time when mixing in the main ingredients. Less
tomato sauce will make the loaf less moist. However, you can always pour the
sauce afterward.
No Cracker?br>
- You can use corn flakes or bread crumbs
Want more veggies?br>
- Add chopped green bell pepper, fresh tomatoes and adjust moisture level in
the mix.
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