The triumph of the 21st Century: J. Val and Myra’s mother’s meatloaf

The 21^st Century is truly amazing when it works. Sure, nobody is cruising around in George Jetson™ brand flying cars, but who would want to? Now, I think it would be cool to fly around town and hover into place right in front of The Mall. But let’s get real: all those blockheads who cut you off in traffic and drive with a phone stuck to their ear would be even more of a menace in a flying car. Imagine if you will, these same people, who, after 8 or 10 pints of Guinness, plow into utility poles and other vehicles crashing into a shopping mall or perhaps, your house. But it’s not just the drunken that should scare you. Just think, all those really stoo-pid people you went to high school with – the ones who never passed a single class except driver’s ed – would be allow to fly around the ether, causing chaos and carnage.

No, I didn’t think you really want that to happen. Flying cars are better on television.

Still, things are pretty cool. With email and webinars, one no longer needs to transport one’s DNA to where the business is; it can mostly be handled virtually. The internet allows for all kinds of things to occur. Email, You Tube ™, Google™, Twitter™, -- all are genius and allow human being to connect with one another. I went to three different high schools and Facebook™, the latest killer app, has allowed be to connect with folks from my oh, so distance past.

Which brings me to meatloaf.

Long version: I was posting and cross-posting on Facebook about the predicted inclement weather (sheet), when the conversation drifted, as it almost always does, to food. I mentioned that I was doing chili (as I usually do on the first snowfall of the year), when Sulli McKelvey Schultz posted about her astonishing sounding pot roast. Then, Myra Eorio and Jan Valentine Schields started riffing about Steak San Marcos (to be the subject for another column) and the next thing you know, it’s a discussion about a glazed meatloaf recipe from when they were both young moms.

Short version: It’s starting to sleet. Got a meatloaf recipe?

I recently spoke to Myra and asked her where the recipe came from.

“We were both young and  didn’t really know what to do for dinner,” Myra said. “I would call Jan and ask “what are you going to do chicken? Serve it raw?’” She laughed. “There was only so much we knew how to do. We had our hand written recipe cards from our Moms.”

Ingredients

• 1 ½ pound ground beef
• 2/3 cup breadcrumbs
• 1 cup milk
• 2 large eggs, slightly beaten
• 1 tsp salt, or to taste
• ¼ tsp fresh cracked black pepper, or to taste
• 1 tbsp of Cantazaro Herb blend (dried sage, dried basil, dried oregano, dried thyme, dried rosemary)
• Glaze
• ¼ cup ketchup
• 3 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 tsp dried mustard power
• 1 tsp cinnamon or nutmeg

Technique

Soak breadcrumbs in milk. Mix together with other ingredients. Bake at 375 for 1 hour. Pour the glaze over top of meatloaf for last 5 minutes and broil, in order to caramelize the top.

It’s the perfect centerpiece for you Post-Eisenhower Sunday feast.