what is the deal with meatloaf? it seems like just a giant meatball...
what do you put in a meatloaf? do you serve it with sauce? gravy? mashed potatos?

Precisely why my husband won't touch the stuff.

I think it's easier to just shape, put in oven and let it do it's thing as opposed to making little balls...

Meatloaf is one of the most underrated foods....

Mine is different because I put a lot of sauteed onions in it...

I also use tomato sauce but I serve it on the side (I don't like it baked on, because I like the crust).

recipies?

meatloaf with a hardboiled egg inside looks very pretty when you slice it. sorry, OT.

I don't have a recipe exactly... but, chop several large onions (depends on how many you like--say 1.5 - 2 onions per lb of meat). Heat some oil in a pan, add the onions, cover, turn the heat down and let them cook till soft. Then take the cover off, turn the heat up and cook till brown. (You can just saute them in oil too, which is faster, but sweating them first makes sure they don't burn.) Put into a big bowl and let it cool. Add the meat, 1 egg per pound of meat, and enough breadcrumbs to hold it together. If your breadcrumbs are unseasoned, add some garlic powder and oregano too. Put into a baking dish, wet your hands and shape into a loaf. Bake at 350 till crusty (45mins+ depending on how big).

For the sauce I generally use whatever's handy, or saute an onion and garlic, add a can of tomato puree and some herbs (basil/oregano usually) and let simmer for a little while while the meatloaf cooks.

I like meatloaf, my MIL stuffs the inside of the meatloaf with mashed sweet potatoes or sausage. You can also wrap pastrami around the outside.

Meatloaf IS a big meatball pretty much. It's just really important to season it properly since alot of the seasonings will bake off. I use lots of salt and pepper and herbs. I use tomato paste on the top (NOT KETCHUP) because I like the tartness of it and the little bit of color. Garlic through a press (like 2 cloves) is another big improvement.

My mother makes an Asian meatloaf using garlic, fresh ginger through a press, cinnimon, curry powder, and green onions, painted with terriyaki sauce on top. It's good. I think I'll make it soon.