Paula Dean's Basic Meatloaf

I tried this recipe out and loved it. No big surprise that it comes from Paula Dean. She makes great tasting food. I have been trying to find a good meatloaf recipe and right now this one ranks as the best right now in my book. I will keep trying others, but this one is delicious. Most meatloafs are pretty bland, but this one has a good flavor to it and smells yummy.

Yields: 4 - 6

Ingredients:
1 pound ground beef
1 1/4 teaspoons salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup chopped bell pepper
1 egg, lightly beaten
8 ounces canned diced tomatoes with juice
1/2 cup quick-cooking oats

Topping:
1/3 cup ketchup
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon prepared mustard

Directions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
Mix all meatloaf ingredients well and place in a baking dish. Shape into a loaf.

Topping:
Mix ingredients for topping and spread on loaf. Bake for 1 hour.

Tips:
I left out the mustard based on the suggestions from others because I am not a big fan of mustard, and it tasted wonderful.

Classic Risotto

Serves: 6

Ingredients:

1 Tablespoon margarine
2 Tablespoons olive oil
1 small onion, chopped
1 Tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
1 cup uncooked Arborio or regular long-grain rice
3 ½ cups chicken broth, divided (up to ½ cup additional broth may be needed at end of recipe)
½ cup grated or shredded Parmesan cheese
¼ teaspoon coarsely ground pepper

Preparation:

1. In nonstick 10 inch skillet or 3-quart saucepan, heat margarine and oil over medium-high heat until butter is melted. Cook onion and parsley in oil mixture about 5 minutes, stirring frequently, until onion is tender.
2. Stir in rice. Cook, stirring occasionally until edges of kernels are translucent. Stir in ½ cup chicken broth. Cook about 3 minutes stirring constantly until broth is absorbed.
3. Reduce heat to medium-low. Stir in 1 cup of the broth. Cook uncovered about 5 minutes, stirring frequently until broth is absorbed. Repeat, adding another 1 cup of broth. Stir in remaining 1 cup broth. Cook about 8 minutes, stirring frequently. Taste rice. If rice is still “crunchy,” add more broth and continue to cook until rice is soft.
4. When rice is just tender and mixture is creamy, stir in cheese and pepper.
5. Serve and enjoy!

Tips:
This recipe compliments any chicken or steak entrée. When cooking this recipe, I usually half it since I cook for two, and I still end up with leftovers. Also, don’t be afraid to deviate from the time specifications as you may find your stove top cooks faster or slower. I usually do end up having to add extra chicken broth at the end to get rid of the “crunchiness.” Good luck!

Shells and Veggies Soup

Need something to warm you up this winter?

This recipe always works for me. Plus, it has tons of veggies in it (without the veggie taste), so it is a good way to get your serving of vegetables for the day. Trust me, my hubby is pretty much an anti veggie eater and he loves this soup.

Serves: 4

Ingredients:

1/2 tsp. vegetable oil
1/4 cup chopped onion
1/2 clove garlic, chopped
(I usually substitute garlic powder - conversions to cloves are usually on the bottle)
1 can (14 oz.) chicken broth
1 can (14 oz.) crushed or diced tomatoes
1/4 cup small shell pasta
2 Tbsp. dried parsley
1/4 cup chopped frozen spinach
1/4 cup cubed zucchini
1/2 cup chopped carrots (or 10 baby carrots chopped)
1/2 cup thinly sliced celery
1/2 tsp. dried basil
1/2 tsp. dried oregano
salt and pepper to taste
3 Tbsp. fresh grated Parmesan cheese (to sprinkle over top)

Preparation:

1. Heat oil in large saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and garlic and cook until the onion is soft, about 2 minutes, stirring occasionally.
2. Add chicken broth, tomatoes, parsley, basil, and oregano to saucepan. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer covered for 10 minutes.
3. Add spinach, carrots, celery, and pasta. Cook 10 minutes covered at a low boil. Add zucchini and cook 7 more minutes.
4. Test for doneness by forking vegetables and pasta to see if tender. Continue to cook if needed.
5. Spoon into a bread bowl; add salt, pepper, and Parmesan cheese to taste.

ENJOY!

One great thing about this recipe is that if you don't like something in it, you can easily change or modify it. The only thing I modify is the carrots. I am not a huge cooked carrot fan, so I usually do 5 baby carrots instead of 10, but like I said it is up to you and what you like.