Best Meatloaf (I've ever had)

The title says it all!!! This is the BEST
MEATLOAF I have ever eaten!!! It would truly
be a shame if you don't get a chance to try this
wonderful & delicious recipe.

Meatloaf is a comfort food...it brings back
memories of Mom's Sunday dinners & family time
spent together after church. My mom was an
incredible woman. She told me she could not even
boil water when she married my dad, but at the end
of her life (58 yrs. old & 31 yrs of marriage she could
make anything including my sisters 4 tiered wedding
cake!!!) It was amazing...as was she!

Meatloaf was made many times (to stretch the
budget) in my family & I remember it always
being good. My mom also made "hash" (leftovers
of whatever kind of meat & potatoes that we had)
even better..but this recipe which I found through
sisterscafe.blogspot.com has gone to the top of my
list for meatloaf.

I changed the recipe somewhat with the
ingredients I had on hand & absolutely
LOVED IT!!! My family paid it high 5's too.
What's great is that besides having a wonderful
comfort food it makes 2 loaves so one can be put
in the freezer to be enjoyed another night or for
sandwiches...they are a "10" too!

P.S. This meatloaf is not dry like alot of meatloaves
usually are. It is moist & tasty & the "Sweet Sauce"
is to die for..Enough said...

RECIPE (makes 2 Lg. Loaves)
3 lbs. ground beef (or 1 1/2 lb. gr. turkey &
1 1/2 lb. gr. beef...lean..whatever you want)
1 lg. onion, chopped finely
1 (8oz.) box stuffing mix (any flavor)
1 8oz. can of tomato sauce
1 Tbsp. Worcestershire Sauce
1/4 tsp. pepper
1 c. fat free, light or reg. sour cream
1 packet of dry ranch dressing
2 tsp. minced garlic
1 tsp. oregano
1 egg

Sweet Sauce (Topping)
2/3 c. ketchup
1/2 brown sugar
1 1/2 tsp. prepared mustard

DIRECTIONS:

Pre-heat oven to 350F.
1) Combine all ingredients in a large mixing bowl.
I used my Kitchen Aid Mixer which is one of my
Favorite Kitchen Items. My sweet daughters
went in together & gave me this wonderful Mixer
years ago. I love it!!! & use it just about on a daily
basis!!

The photo below shows the "paddle" attachment
that works beautifully for this.

2) Mix all ingredients thoroughly. SEE BELOW:

3) Divide into two 9" loaf pans. Do not cover.

Bake in a pre-heated oven at 350F. for 1 hr.

4) Remove loaves and drain any accumulated

grease in pans. I pour it into a 5lb. heavy duty

alumunium type can that I keep until filled. Top

with Sweet Sauce and bake an additional

30 min.

5) Done and fabulously delicious!!

6) This meatloaf (paired with homemade mash

potatoes and asparagus with balsamic sauce) is fit

for a king...or queen...Hope you love it!!!

P.S. I will post the asparagus with Balsamic Sauce

in a few days...it's fantastic too!!

Peanut Butter Cup Cookies/Foodista Contest Update

Foodista UPDATE!! I was under the impression
that as of Feb. 28th, 2010 the Contest was over..&
voting was completed..SURPRISE..It's Not Over
until March 31st, 2010. SO...IF YOU WOULD LIKE
TO HELP ME OUT (with this contest) I would so
very much appreciate "YOUR VOTE"... Just click
on the "Foodista Button" (on the sidebar & it will
automatically take you to my recipe)..where you
can "VOTE."


The way they have set it up you have to register one
time only..(because of abuse they have previously had
on their site)) & then you can vote..

Sorry for any confusion..it's all been quite surprising
to me as well. I usually never enter these kind of things.
Thank you all for the great friends you are &
the constant support you have given me...It's
truly heart-warming...Your the GREATEST!!!!


Now...Peanut-Butter Cup Cookies....
These are for anyone who loves Chocolate Peanut
Butter Cups/Reese's Pieces & peanuts...and
who doesn't??? I did something like these awhile
ago, but they had cocoa powder in them & these don't.

I originally was going to do this easy recipe from
Pillsbury which only required 4 ingredients..but
since I did not have the "refrigerated peanut
butter dough" I thought I'll just make the peanut
butter dough from scratch..so I mixed 2 recipes
together & came up with this one.

RECIPE
1 1/4 c. light brown sugar
3/4 c. peanut butter (I used crunchy)
1/2 c. butter Crisco
3 Tbsp. milk
1 Tbsp. vanilla
1 egg
1 3/4 c. flour
3/4 tsp. baking soda
3/4 tsp. salt
1 box (4oz.) Reese's Pieces
24 Peanut butter cups (whole)
1 c. Planters Peanuts (optional)

Directions:
Pre-heat oven @ 350F.

1) Combine brown sugar, peanut butter, shortening,
milk, & vanilla in lg. bowl. Beat at medium speed
until well blended. Add egg & mix until blended in.

2) Combine flour, baking soda, and salt in medium
bowl. Add to creamed mixture at low speed until
blended. Stir in Reese's Pieces (if you haven't
eaten them all by now..they are sooo good!!) and
the peanuts (optional)

****I made them both ways & think the ones
without the peanuts tasted better...because I used
chunky peanut butter (that's all I had) I think
adding the peanuts took away from the GREAT
TASTE of the cookie.

3) Drop dough (with a cookie scoop) 2" apart
on to baking sheet. See Below:

4) Bake 10-14 min. (depending on your oven)
or until lightly brown. Immediately top each cookie
with 1 peanut butter cup..press lightly into the
dough.

5) Cool 2 minutes, remove from cookie sheets.
Let cookies stand until peanut butter cups are set
before storing or eating. Don't store before 3 hrs.
SEE BELOW:

WITHOUT PEANUTS:

WITH PEANUTS: