Simple Meatloaf and Loaded Potatoes

My family likes meatloaf.  It's good the day of and the next day for sandwiches.  The meatloaf is very simple.  As the kiddos have grown older, I have tried to add other things - bell peppers, sauce, bacon, whatever.  Each time a resounding "What did you do to the meatloaf?!" echoed through the house.  Now I just stick with the simplest of meatloaves and no one complains.  I also bake my meatloaf on a broiler pan.  I don't like it when it is greasy.  This way the fat drains to the bottom.

When you think "meatloaf" you automatically think potatoes with it.  These are good because you can get them put together up to a day before and just stick them in the oven with the meatloaf when it is half done.  Easy.  I made ratatouille (see the salmon and ratatouille post) to go with the meal.  Yum.

Meatloaf

2-3 pounds of lean ground beef

1 egg

1 cup uncooked oatmeal

1 14 ounce can tomato sauce

1 envelope Lipton onion soup mix

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Place all of the ingredients in a large bowl.  With your hands, mix and squish the mixture around until it is evenly mixed. (I am wearing a glove because I had cut my finger  a couple of days before warranting a trip to the urgent care and a tetanus shot.)

Form the meat mixture into a loaf on a broiling pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour.

Let the meatloaf rest for 10 minutes.  With two spatulas, gently lift the meatloaf onto a serving platter.

Loaded Potatoes

8 - 10 potatoes, cooked (baked or boiled) and cubed

1 (4 ounce) cube cream cheese

1/2 stick (1/4 cup) butter, cut in chunks

1/2 cup sour cream

milk

1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese

chives (optional)

4 strips cooked bacon, cut up (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Mix the cream cheese, butter and sour cream in a large bowl until semi-smooth.  Add the potatoes and stir until the potatoes are covered, adding milk as needed to make them creamy.

Place potato mixture in casserole dish.  Top with cheddar cheese, chives and bacon.  Bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees.