ApacheDug’s Award Winning Meatloaf!

I know, I know:  meatloaf is boring, they’re simple to make & if you google the word ‘meatloaf’ you’ll find 228,565 recipes already out there.  

But it seems like everytime I convince myself there’s a better meatloaf online and try one of those other recipes—nope!  Mine’s always best.

C’mon people—chili powder?  Carrots?  Raisins??  Why don’t you stir in a dash of crazy!

ApacheDug’s Award Winning Meatloaf

• 1 lb. 80% lean ground beef
• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup Progresso Breadcrumbs
• 1 chopped (fine) onion
• 1 chopped (fine) green pepper
• 2 tablespoons Worchestire Sauce
• 1 teaspoon yellow mustard
• 1/4 cup milk
• Dash of garlic powder
• Dash of salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper (careful!)

Topping:

• 1/3 cup ketchup
• 1 teaspoon yellow mustard
• 3 tablespoons brown sugar

1.  Preheat oven to 350F.  Whisk egg & milk together first.  Add remaining ingredients (except for topping) in a large bowl, shape into a loaf. 

Bake uncovered at 350F for 45 minutes.

2.  Whisk topping ingredients together in small bowl until blended, spoon on top of cooked meatloaf and place back into oven for an additional 10-15 minutes.

3.  Remove from oven, transfer to large plate & let sit for 4-5 minutes. 

Enjoy!

I’m back in the city, thanks to some very special people… it’s a beautiful thing

 

This past Saturday, with the help of my sister Shawn, brother-in-law Jim and my niece Sophia, I moved back to the city of Pittsburgh.  (Well, about 5-6 miles north if you want to get specific.)  But right now, all I can say is—it’s wonderful to be home again.   And there’s no way I could’ve done it without them, thank you so much guys. 

My sister Shawn also got me this awesome welcome mat for my new front door

So after a busy weekend of unpacking, bright and early Monday morning I headed out of my new apartment building—and walked up the main avenue to my former neighborhood of 22+ years, to drop in on some folks & businesses I haven’t seen since last summer.  I had to laugh when my old friend Tilla at Lincoln Deli exclaimed  “WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN!”   When I started to reply, she said “YOU MISSED OUR FRUIT PIE SALE LAST WEEK!” 

Anyway, I’m not all moved in just yet so to speak—I still don’t have a couch (it’s on order!) or dining chairs for my new dining table, or anything for the walls—but here’s what I DO have, and for all this I am grateful & happy.

An awesome view out my giant livingroom window—it’s an 8 foot square of new glass that looks down on a tree-lined street in the daytime, and at night I can see the twinkling lights of Mt. Washington in the distance.

Did I mention my building has an elevator?   (And yes, that’s a bouquet of fake flowers in the former ashtray attached to the wall…)  Now this is city living!

My new bedroom, with a cool green metal bedframe I bought at IKEA—assembled by my awesome brother-in-law Jim.  

Here’s my new red dresser, ALSO bought from IKEA, and ALSO assembled by Jim and Sophia.   

I had to get a new tv stand (my old one was a corner unit which wouldn’t work here) and also bought this stylish glass-top dining table (sans the chairs).  My sister Shawn found it for me, all I had to do was plunk down my credit card!

The kitchen is small as they come, but everything is happy, shiny & new; easily the nicest one I’ve ever had, along with the rest of this awesome apartment.

Well, that’s all I have for the moment—I just wanted to get some pics of the new place on here, and again say a big thanks to my family for helping me get back where I belong.   But as glad as I am to be back in the city, I’m very much looking forward to going home again this weekend—and seeing this little handyman for Easter!