Family Favorite Meat Loaf

My family had always had a love/hate relationship with meat loaf - It was one of my husband's favorite meals. I could always count on him being home for lunch the day after we had meat loaf for dinner. He loved his meatloaf sandwiches with mayonnaise and a little ketchup. Our traditional meat loaf dinner consisted of sliced meat loaf - fordhook limas - and macaroni and cheese. My middle daughter loves meat loaf as much as her daddy. After the birth of each child, she requested my meat loaf as her coming home dinner. Her older brother hates it. He would gag at the raw onions and have to leave the table under duress. He is the reason that I went to the Lipton onion soup mix to replace the onions. Baby daughter came along and didn't like meat loaf either. She was the reason for the addition of the macaroni and cheese to the menu, replacing mashed potatoes. This is a very good recipe - Moist with lots of flavor.

Home Style Family Meat Loaf

1 1/2 pounds ground chuck
1 cup crushed saltine crackers
1 egg
1/2 to 3/4 package Lipton Onion soup mix - this takes the place of the salt
1 8 oz can tomato sauce
good sprinkling of ground pepper
(optional) - one 8 oz can of mushrooms
Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour and 15 minutes
Remove from oven and drain off excess fat
Spread ketchup over the top - return to oven for another 10 to 15 minutes -
Let cool before slicing

Now, I'm craving meat loaf - Meat Loaf sandwiches for lunch anyone?

I couldn't get a great photo - so I borrowed one from Pillsbury.com

Cast Iron Cooking

     My mother was a wonderful cook. She could fry the most delicious chicken, cook the best pot of green beans, and make little individual hoe cake patties to die for- her secret was cast iron cookware - I still use her frying pan and it is still seasoned to perfection - She taught me a few little secrets about keeping your cast iron skillet non stick - 

When purchasing new cast iron skillet - wash it in hot, soapy water and dry completely - Let your pot enjoy it's bubble bath - this is the only time that it will ever get to soak in soap- 

Apply a thin coat of vegetable oil inside and outside of your skillet or pot- Don't forget the lid.

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and turn pan and top upside down on rack - line rack underneath with foil to catch any drippings - Bake for one hour and cool completely - never store your cast iron skillets with the top on - they need to breathe - we don't want any rust

After using your pots and skillets, wash with hot water and a plastic scrubber - metal will scrub off the seasoning - dry very, very well - while is pot is still warm from hot water - spray vegetable oil all over - you will love your cookware for years - 

Never - oh Never put in dishwasher - 

Mama - I did listen to your lessons- Now I am trying to teach my daughters!

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Macaroni Tuna Salad

My family loves pasta salad - We have evolved into eating much healthier versions, but I love the classic Macaroni Salad with canned tuna - Can't be beat in my opinion!
Salt that water when boiling 2 cups of macaroni
Drain and rinse macaroni until cool
Pour macaroni into large bowl

Add 1 - 12 ounce can of tuna packed in water
2 tablespoons chopped red and green peppers
2 tablespoons chopped scallions
1/4 cup sliced green olives with pimientos
1/2 cup chopped celery
2 tablespoons sweet gherkins- diced - a little pickle juice-
Mix 1 cup Duke's mayonnaise with 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Stir into salad - Salt to taste -
Serve in lettuce lined bowl - or eat on paper plates at work!!

Lunch at Work

We have such a great time at Jellybeans and the Magnolia Tree. I stayed home this morning and brought lunch to the girls. We had baked ham and cheese sandwiches and yummy Plant City, Florida strawberries mixed with slightly sweetened cream on purchased sponge cake.

Poppy Seed Ham and Swiss Buns
 1 package Hawaiian Rolls
 1 stick melted butter
 2Tbs Minced Onion
 2Tbs yellow mustard
 2Tbs worcestershire sauce
 2Tbs poppy seeds

 Plumrose Ham slices
 Swiss cheese slices
 Split Hawaiian Rolls
 Place cut ham and cheese slices to fit roll
 Place in 9 x 13 pan
 Melt butter  - Mix in with butter next 4 ingredients -   Pour over sandwiches -  Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes
Delicious -

Fresh Florida Strawberries and Cream on Sponge Cake Whip 1/2 pint whipping cream with 1/4 cup sugar until stiff peaks form Fold in one container Fresh Strawberries from the field- sliced Spoon on purchased sponge cakes (they were buy one get one free this week) Since no syrup is created, the cakes remain firm and do not get soggy.

I'm so excited - I haven't been able to get into my family food blog for two years - Our phone and internet service has been changed and therefore, I could not send an email with the forgotten password. Last night, I woke up in the middle of the night and immediately knew the password. I have tons of family recipes from my mother and aunt, my baby daughter- who is quite the home cook, and many that I have picked up through four decades of cooking for my family and friends. I am excited to begin sharing the stories and memories that accompany each and every delicious mouthful. I promise to test each and every recipe for accuracy in measurement. My friend and her husband are excited also, as they are my taste testers and dinner companions - I will be headed to the grocery store armed with my mother's recipe file and my coupons - Stay tuned for our family favorites - Hopefully, they will become favorites of your family also.