Easy and Delicious Meatloaf



yum! Meatloaf...

Yesterday was another beautiful day today in Iowa! When I woke up in the morning, the sun was just starting to rise. I took my coffee onto the back deck and sat in the sun while I listened to the birds singing. Later in the morning I went to church and had to sit by a window just to be near the sunshine.

After being stuck inside all winter, a day like that just brings everybody outside. Including me, of course. The last thought on my mind is "what will I make for dinner?" and suddenly at 6 p.m. I realize I needed to come up with something. That's when one of those easy-to-do meals comes in very handy! Something I always have the ingredients on hand for...

So I decided to make Easy Meatloaf. I originally found the recipe on the back of a Stove Top Stuffing mix box years ago and after modifying it a few times I have my standard recipe and would love to share it with you!

Ingredients are simple: 2 pounds ground beef, 1 package Stove Top stuffing mix and 2 eggs.

My modifications are adding onions and water chestnuts. My Aunt told me she added water chestnuts to her recipe, so one day I decided to add them to mine and we absolutely loved it, so I always use them now!

I will also occasionally put craisins into the recipe as well. Last winter I found Stove Top had a cranberry stuffing mix and I picked up a few boxes and now use this all the time.

Lastly, I use a topping of ketchup, mustard and brown sugar. Or just ketchup and brown sugar.

The recipe will make 1 large loaf or 2 small loaves. I usually do 2 loaves and either cook them together -- or cook one and freeze one.

Very simple ingredients!



Chop the sliced water chestnuts into pieces



Mix ground beef, stuffing, eggs, onions and water chestnuts

 

Shape into loaves. I usually cook one and freeze one.

 

Mix ketchup and brown sugar

 

Pour ketchup/sugar mixture over meatloaf

  

Baked and all done!


See?? Easy!!

Here's the recipe if you'd like to give it a try:

Easy Meatloaf
Prep: 5 minutes
Bake: 1 hour for 1 loaf, 30-35 minutes for 2 loaves
Serves: 6-8

Ingredients:
2 pounds lean ground beef (can also use ground turkey)
1 package Stove Top Stuffing mix for beef (I used Cranberry)
1 can of sliced water chestnuts (chopped some more)
1 medium onion, chopped
2 eggs, beaten
1/4 cup ketchup
1 cup water

Topping:
1/3 cup ketchup
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 T mustard if desired

Directions:
Mix 1 cup water, ground beef, contents of stuffing mix, eggs, chopped water chestnuts and the ketchup.

In a separate bowl, mix the ketchup and brown sugar (and mustard if desired). You can double this if you prefer more topping on the meatloaf. Or adjust it to taste.

Shape the meat mixture into 1 or 2 oval loaves in center of a 13x9 baking pan. Spread the brown sugar mixture over the top. (I use a smaller baking pan when only baking 1 loaf.)

Bake at 400 degrees for 1 hour if making 1 loaf. Bake 30-35 minutes if you have made 2 loaves (same time if you're cooking 2 smaller loaves or 1 loaf).

And enjoy!!

Thanks for reading!

When guys get together . . . stuff happens

Yesterday, hubby took off around noon and said he'd be gone about an hour or two. He was meeting two friends and they were going to do some target shooting. One of the guys owns a little bit of property in the country which has a very old farmhouse (nobody has lived there for years) along with a collapsing barn and a couple of old wood buildings. 

Two hours pass and hubby isn't home... three hours... four hours...

Five hours later, hubby comes finally comes home. I asked him how the target shooting went and he replies "fine" in his talkative way. I asked if they spent five entire hours shooting targets and he replies "no, we did a few other things..."

So... I ask what other things they did and he replies "I'll show you."

These are the photos from his phone:

Guess the guys will be replacing the melted vinyl siding during their next "target shooting practice."


Thanks for reading!

Seashells Tablescape

My third tablescape!

Setting the table in our sunroom today was so much fun with one of the most gorgeous spring days to embrace northwest Iowa. With temps in the mid 50's, no wind and lots of sunshine -- the ice which covered the lake just two days ago is almost gone! 

While I was setting the table up today, I listened to the Canadian Geese flying overhead as well as the many birds singing outside. The call of a Loon even echoed over the lake. Loons are only here for a short time and easy to miss.

To coincide with the arrival of spring on the lake, I decided to go with a seashell tablescape.

I like keeping everything light and airy when setting the table in the sunroom.

Blues and greens against the lake in the spring.

I picked these dishes up a few months ago.

My flatware is Oneida "Julliard" -- we received all of it as wedding gifts 24 years ago.

Ceramic seashell napkin rings

Salad plate in "sea foam"

Dinner plate in white. The shells are raised on the dishes. Love these dishes!

Seashell placemats. I only use a round or shaped placemat on a round table.

I just picked up this stemware at TJMaxx. Same glasses are also sold at Horchow/Neiman Marcus.

Glass stones in the bottom and seashells surround the candle.

Pewter fish holds the little picks each with a design on the top. These were a gift from my mother many years ago.

Side table holds a giant seashell with faux sea glass.

The view from our sunroom over the lake. Ice is gone and the sparkling open water is back!

For those that read "Between Naps on the Porch" this sign might look familiar.
The moment I saw this in Susan's blog, I looked it up and found out where to buy it and it was here in two days! One of my very favorite songs; and summer breezes are the best.

As always... Holly likes to help!

Happy seashell spring!!

What's on the table:
Dinner plates and salad plates: JCPenney Cindy Crawford Oceanview
Flatware: Oneida "Julliard" (each place setting was a wedding gift)
Placemats, napkins rings, napkins and shotglasses: Home Goods from a few years ago
Small green glasses: CB2
Green and blue goblets: Bahia (sold at Neiman Marcus/Horchow - found at TJ Maxx)
White shell buckets; candle, jar and everything in it: Walmart


Thanks for reading!
 


Show and Tell Saturdays at Be Different Act Normal
Seasonal Sundays at The Tablescaper
Masterpiece Monday at Boogieboard Cottage
Show off Your Cottage Monday at The House in the Roses
Anything Goes Party at Type A
Amaze Me Monday at Dittle Dattle
Debbiedoo's Newbie Party at Debbiedoo's Blogging and Blabbing
Tabletop Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life
Tablescape Thursday at Between Naps on the Porch