Meatloaf Muffins.

Meatloaf: An inexpensive versatile meal that is sure to please. I read a lot of Old cookbooks, My great aunt sent me a huge pile of them. Many of them come with instructions on how to be a "perfect housewife". I am positive that meatloaf served with canned fruit cocktail and a green (beans or salad) at least 2 times a week in the 50's. Any way. Here is what I did. Remember, I hate to measure and my family is strange.

1lb lean ground beef (I actually only had 80/20 here which worked great but I suppose you could go much leaner or even use Bison)
1 Carrot
1/2 of an onion
1 Large Garlic Clove
About 1 TBSP Oregano
2 good pinches of celery seed (or if you have celery on hand add it instead, (I would say 1 stalk would be sufficient)
3/4-1 cup panko bread crumbs
1 egg
1/4 cup ketchup and 1/2 cup ketchup mixed with 1 1/2 TBSP of Worcestershire sauce)
Salt and pepper to taste

(Funny note, no one says Worcestershire sauce right, except for My husbands Cousin who is of course from London. Except he calls it sauce, apparently it is automatically known that when you ask for sauce that is what is given)

Preheat oven to 350

So Because my family is stranger than strange I grate all vegetables so that they have no idea of the contents of what they eat, sad but oh so true.
With a cheese grater (largest holes) Grate your onion (and celery if you are using stalks instead of seed)
With the small holes grate the carrots and garlic

In a skillet with a small amount of butter (or olive oil) saute the veggies until they are completely tender.

While those are cooking get your meat ready Add your meat, egg, 1/4 cup ketchup, salt, pepper, oregano, celery seed (if using) and bread crumbs.

Add your sauteed veggies (it is best if you let them cool so you don't cook the egg or meat and you don't want to burn your hands ;) Live and learn baby, live and learn)

Mix together well but do not over mix, the more you handle it the greasier the meat will become.

Grease your muffin tin I got 8 muffins out of this. Make small balls and press them gently into the cups of your tin. Top each one with a generous amount of the ketchup/Worcestershire sauce mix.

Bake for 25 minutes at 350
I topped 3 of mine with a colby/jack cheese (after they were done I cut the oven off and popped it back in until cheese had melted) and I wish I had topped them all!

Chili when it is Chilly

Ok as promised. The chili recipe.

I love making chili because I can usually substitute for what I don't have on hand.

Tonight we have:

I dug through the cabinet because the tomatoes aren't a big deal, just as long as you have at the very least 3 cans (I used Rotel HOT, Delmonte with green chilies and Wal-mart brand chili ready) You have to have 2 large cans of Kidney beans, I use one light red and 1 dark red and another must is the Bush's Chili beans in sauce. I also have 3 LBS of Ground beef and I cheated tonight with 2 packets of McCormick Chili (original) spice packets and 1 onion, If I have green pepper (or Jalapeno) on hand I use that too. (this really is a throw together meal.


Now, I like my chili chunky but if you've been following my husband is picky So here is what I do, you can skip the puree step and you can dice (instead of grate your onions)

Brown and drain Ground beef

Add all the tomatoes and the grated onion (or any other veggies you may have) into your pot. Simmer until flavors meld and onions begin to break down (you can also saute your onions, peppers etc with your ground beef if you are not pureeing)

Puree the sauce. I have one of those handy dandy hand blender deals, got it on clearance for like $5 and LOVE.IT.

Drain your Red Kidney beans well.

Add your beef, Beans (chili beans WITH sauce, Kidney beans drained) And add your 2 packets of Seasoning (this has Gluten so if you are trying to stay Gluten free Try adding
4 teaspoons chili powder
1 tablespoon crushed red pepper
1 tablespoon dried minced onion
1 tablespoon dried, minced garlic
2 teaspoons white sugar
2 teaspoons ground cumin
2 teaspoons dried parsley
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon dried basil
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
If you want a thickening agent you can use flour (rice if you are Gluten Free) or Cornstarch (which also works with Gluten free I think)

With the 2 seasoning packets I add about another TBSP of Chili powder a shake or two of onion powder and a good healthy squirt of Sirachi sauce (which is optional, but again, if you follow we are addicted to it)

I add anywhere from 1-2 Quarts of water, Depending on how long I am cooking it, today I added 2 Quarts because it was going to simmer for hours, if I am cooking it last minute then I don't add as much but stir constantly. Some like it soupy, some like it thick so it is totally up to you.

Now it is done,

Jason likes to top his with Canned Jalapenos and cheese
I like sour cream and cheese on mine.

Now you have plenty for tonight, plenty for the fridge/freezer

Great meals with Chili besides chili are

Chili Mac and cheese

Chili stuffed baked potato (oh my heavens, it is heaven) I have a picture for this but I cannot find it. hmph.

Chili bacon cheese fries (or Chili Cheese fries)(I have a sure fire way to make Cheese fries and make them PERFECTO)

Top hot dogs or burgers

Nachos (oh man is that ever good, I will have to do this recipe for you guys too!)

Top potato skins Here is my potato skin recipe just don't use the BBQ sauce if topping with Chili!

And last but not least Chili dog pizza I kid you not, it is a real thing. See recipe here