As you know I run a small sustainably managed old fashioned farm. We like to grow the food we eat. But so that I can have this ‘on the farm’ life to which I would like to become accustomed, Our John has to go to work each day at a real job. Poor darling. And as I won’t let anyone eat processed or store bought food I cook dinner with his lunch for the next day in mind. Lunches for him to take to work. Meatloaf fits the bill nicely. As kids we ate meatloaf sandwiches and my children did too when they were at school. My mother used to make her meatloaf in two large loaf tins. I prefer to make it in the little tins. They cook faster and then the loaves are less likely to dry out.
Mama’s Meat Loaf
- 1 pound of ground (minced) beef
- 1 pound of ground(minced) pork
- 1 onion
- 1 loose cup of grated butternut and the same of grated egg plant ( or carrot and sweet potato), or whatever is in your garden. Just make sure a third of your loaf is vegetables.
- 1 cup frozen peas
- 1/2 finely chopped de seeded chilli. This little hit of chilli complements the honey so be very light handed. You want to taste each flavour.
- fresh herbs – thyme, celeriac (just a little of the leaf so it supports the tastes not overpowers them), generous pick of rosemary tips.
- 2 eggs.
- a tiny drizzle of honey.
- salt and pepper to taste.
The best way to combine this is to use your hands. Fingers were made before forks! And if you have time, it is even better if you can combine everything except the eggs and let it sit for a couple of hours in the fridge to exchange flavours.
Pat firmly into your loaf tins. This will make four small loaves.
Pour a rich sweet Thai chilli sauce on top and then top that with grated or sliced cheese. When my children were young I topped it with tomato paste and swirls of mustard on top of that.
Cook in moderate oven for about 40 minutes to an hour. Careful not to overcook as a dry meatloaf is so dissappointing. Now, it will get juicy as it cooks. So half way through the cooking time I VERY CAREFULLY drain some of the juices out of the tin then pop it back into the oven. Oy.. someone get that bad cat off the table! .. bad cat! 
We ate this with butter roasted new potatoes and fresh beans from the garden. We have been eating outside on my barn door table, every evening since spring.
THE NEXT DAY
Make a lunch box door-stop sandwich with your home made flax seed bread and a slice of cold meatloaf. If you have baked your bread and meatloaf in the same size tins then they will fit together perfectly. Add a slice of cheese, a smear of your tomato chutney, and a few leaves of fresh fall lettuce.
Maybe send him to work with a bottle of ginger beer like the old time Welsh miners. No shaking. 
c
PS Ginger beer and that Bad Cat
The Kitchen's Garden 
61 responses to “mama’s easy meatloaf”
Oh my hat, they look so good 🙂
Oh Cindy, Don’t eat your hat!!. It is my lunch too today and it is good.. c
That does look good. Katherine doesn’t like my meatloaf. I should try this one. She’s always taking leftovers for lunch.
Isn’t it strange greg, how leftovers often taste better that the actual meal. I would love you to make this for kathryn because I know you will tweek this and add that and I want to know all your tweeks and adds!! so i can do them too.. c
This looks marvelous! And I love the bad cat…
Can you tell me about the ginger beer? Do you purchase it in those bottles? It looks so inviting and I adore ginger beer.
Hummo sweetie..(sorry mouth full) Hullo sweetie.. Pop into september and look for the .’gingerbeer bug and sourdough starter’ page, it will tell you in there.. i am still waiting for my first brew to be ready so i will talk about it later as well.. fingers crossed! c
It all looks so goood…so good even your cat can’t help it! lucky cat!
naughty kitty, was sent back to the floor! c
Meatloaf is so comfort food!! We do it in Italy, and it is called “Polpettone” (which literally means big meatball). I am definitely trying your recipe!!
Thank you Ambrosiana.. I have learnt a new Italian word..great! Do you have a recipe for your Polpettone? c
Beautiful looking meatloaf and I like the classic construstion of ingredients with the butternut twist.
Hey glutton, Mainly that is because i am picking butternuts, i am an impulsive cook.. ! but the veg is important to the texture i think, makes it lighter.. c
That looks amazing!! Thanks for sharing
You are so welcome Mrs Cleaver.. c
Beautiful kitty! I have never made meat loaf before :-0. I LOVE the idea of individual little ones – one of my favourite things to do is to make individual portions.
Have a great day.
🙂 Mandy
thank you Mandy, when I make them for a big group I make them in muffin tins. they are always a hit like that but you have to be so careful they do not dry out. c
That’s a great meatloaf! Bravo!
Thank you.. have a great evening! . c
Would never have thought about honey in a meatloaf…and hubs believes that a cold meatloaf sandwich is heaven sent. I don’t know which is better – the photos or the subject matter! You rock! t
Oh Miss T, that is right.. your hubby will like it.. brownie points for you! c
You’ve struck gold, Madame! I love me some meatloaf and meatloaf sammiches the next day are fantastic, even better if smothered in gravy. Now I’m hungry and no matter what I fix for dinner, your meatloaf will be on my mind. Mouth-watering recipe + beautiful photos = great post!
Thank you John, I’m impressed that I could make you hungry! What are you having for dinner anyway? c
I think I’ll just whip up a little pasta using the last of my garden’s cherry tomatoes and call it a meal. Not only is it not your meatloaf but it will make a lousy sammich tomorrow.
yeah you are right.. pasta does not fry up very well for breakfast tomorrow either.. ah well.. c
Yummy post! 5.30am here, and I’m now yearning for meatloaf! Great recipe C, thanks for sharing! We looove meatloaf, especially with homemade tomato sauce…
oo you are like me, I start at 5.30 too! And you are so right about meatloaf and Martie Sauce.. my problem is that i make all that stuff then just eat it!! and then it is gone ha ha ha c
Cheeky cat! 🙂
I haven’t had meatloaf in many moons.
Meatloaf is great to have in the fridge if you just want a lo carb nibble, lovely to see you hippy c
I love those little tins.. a great idea for sandwiches. And about those sandwiches… I never got those in my lunch at school!! Yum!
Hi smidgen, they are cute little sandwiches aren’t they.. c
Seems it would be so nice to try this meatloaf. I haven’t cooked before. But as if I remember something like that from my grandmother. Your recipe and photographs seem so delicious! Your bad cat is amazing, I loved. Thank you dear Cecilia, with my love, nia
Yes nia, it is a very grandmotherly recipe, old fashioned.. c