Give meat loaf a flavour twist
Q: I was asked to bring meat loaf to a potluck that I am going to next month. I want to give it great flavour so that it doesn’t taste like ordinary, boring meat loaf. Any suggestions?
A: I love including uncooked, boxed turkey stuffing to meat loaf when I mix it. The meat loaf ends up with great flavour. Other ingredients to include: grated cheddar or mozzarella cheese, peppers, seasoning and chopped onion.
Before baking, top the meat loaf with a mixed combination of half a cup of tomato sauce, half a cup of brown or white sugar and one teaspoon of mustard.
After baking, remove from oven and let stand for 10 minutes. Release meat loaf from pan. Wrap in aluminum foil and slide inside a plastic bag, freeze.
On the day of the potluck, remove the meat loaf from the freezer and partially thaw. Cut slices of meat loaf and display meat loaf on a platter. Since the meat loaf is partially frozen, the slices will cut cleanly. Heat meat loaf or serve cold.
An alternative way to bring a punch of flavour to meat loaf: before packing the ground beef mixture into the pan, line the bottom of the pan with uncooked bacon and drape the bacon over the sides of the loaf pan. Add beef mixture and bring the ends of the bacon strips over the top of the meat loaf. Q: We recently purchased a trailer and the people we bought from had put mothballs inside to keep vermin out. Well, it’s been closed all winter, and now we can’t get the smell out! A: You may want to consider renting an ozone machine. This little machine is not recommended for regular use, but it is great for enclosed areas that have had smoke or flood damage or just smell.
The machine lets out a molecule called O3 (which is oxygen with an extra molecule attached). The third molecule escapes into the air and absorbs all odours. These machines can be rented at tool rental retailers as well as some hardware stores.
Wash walls and floors with shampoo and water. Clean appliances and upholstery and leave windows open as much as possible. Boil vanilla, cinnamon and water on the stove.