P Dub's Meatloaf

Last night I made Pioneer Woman's recipe for Meatloaf.  It is from her first book.  And she featured it on her show on Saturday.  Ree cooks foods that are very similar to foods that I grew up on.  She makes a lot of things the way I make them too.  But her meatloaf was different.  I have made my meatloaf with bacon on top before, but only a couple of slices.  And I have made a bbq sauce to glaze a meatloaf with before too.  But the combination of both bacon and sauce, and using the bread soaked in milk, made this meatloaf wonderful!  I give it two thumbs way up!!  Here is what you are going to need.

She doesn't put worcestershire sauce in hers, but I did.  And I also sprinkled some garlic salt in mine too. 
I took a picture of the recipe in her book so I wouldn't have to type it out.

Lay the bread in a bowl, pour milk over it, letting it absorb the milk.  Then add the meat, and cheese, and spices, and parsley, and eggs. Using clean hands, mix together well, then shape into loaf onto a broiler pan or rack where fat can drain off of meat.  Wrap loaf with strips of bacon.  I think I used 9 strips of bacon. 

On her show, she cut off about 2 inches of the bacon and layed it across the short end of the loaf.  I thought that was silly.  I did not cut the bacon, and instead layed it across the long end of the loaf.  Then used a couple going across the short end too, just tucking in the edges.
Then mix your sauce, which she calls tomato gravy.  I call it bbq sauce.  Pour about 1/3 on top of loaf.

Pop it in the oven at 350 for 45 min.  At 45 min. take it out and pour another 1/3 of the sauce onto top of loaf, then put it back into oven for what she says, should be 15 more minutes.  However, I felt it needed an additional 30 minutes to bake.   So mine baked for a total time of 1hour and 15 minutes.

Ideally, it should be left to set up about 10 minutes before slicing into it.  Just cover loosely with tin foil, and finish off rest of the dinner.  In my case, I went easy peasy and made some instant taters, and we had fresh fruit. 

Using the remaining sauce to drizzle over cooked meatloaf.  It doesn't need it, but if you want more, use it.  This was just delicious!  Made me think of my Mom and Dad.  Comfort food, all the way!!  I think we will be having meatloaf sandwiches for dinner tonight.
I have been having a lot of yogurt and fresh fruit lately.  I could live off fresh fruit!  I layer yogurt, my favorite is Activia Peach, and then some fruit, some homemade granola, then more yogurt, fruit and granola.  DELISH!!

If I really want to feel like I am in "The Islands" I have some fresh guava juice with it.
Yesterday Jake and the girls came for a visit.  We had a little lunch, and then set up the Wii Rock Bank game.  We still need to fine tune the set up, but the kids had a blast.

My dear friend Sue generously gave this to me, since her kids no longer use it.  I am sure the grands, and probably all of us, will have a lot of fun with this game!!   I think the lead vocalist was clearly established. 

The drummer was really rockin it!!!

And our guitarist was fantastic!!!

They did audition for other roles too.   Hannah also slayed it on the drums.

And Noah showed off his vocal talents too.

Look out American Idol 2022!!!!!
Yesterday morning we woke up to more rain.  Glorious rain!  I went out to feed the chickens and noticed that the iris' I had so hoped would open up before Easter, but didn't, had opened.

A friend of mine in Chicago, who is a master gardener, and has her home on garden tour every year, sent me a couple of iris' after she had divided them in her yard.  She packed them ever so carefully, and upon arrival to me in California, I immediately planted them, and had a couple of blooms the first year, and tons of blooms every year after that.  I divide them each fall, and now have them all over my front and back yards.  They put on a show every April, with an explosion of purple that never disappoints!  And they smell like grape candy.  I still have several that are about to burst with their color.

I just wish that their blooms lasted all season!!!  This fall I will do a big divide.
I have made it a point to really take it easy this week, after all of the hard work in preparation for Easter here at our house.  I have been a very good girl, and scheduled some doctor appointments.  Not always fun, but necessary.  I am having lunch with my pal Jae today.  I had a wonderful lunch with a friend on Tuesday...thank you Maryrose.   And hopefully by next week, I will be back at it on my DIY projects.  The bathroom awaits paint.  There is one more garden box to be built.  Windows need washing, and well, it is endless really.
I hope you are having a great week....wherever you are.

Go make it a great day!!!
XO  Kris