Mom's Comfort Foods

Yes....Lisa here again, reminding you that if you haven't voted on the little poll up in the right hand corner of my blog.....to please do so. I want to know what you like. Also....if you have any suggestions for other topics, I would love to hear them. I like the topic days....but I want topics that interest my readers as well as myself so please vote and then comment at will.

Yesterday was crazy! The project that I am working on may just be a go! But whether it is or it isn't....some much needed changes in my life are currently going on. Remodeling changes that is. My kitchen has been in sad need for awhile now and by the end of September....hopefully it will be done. Just hope I can get some sleep between now and then. There is just so much going on! Oy!

Well it is Monday again and time to see what's cookin'! Today I am sharing a couple of recipes passed down from my mother. My mother grew up at the end of the  dust bowl days in Oklahoma. Meals weren't fancy and most were of a meat and potatoes variety. Even as times grew less lean, growing up in a family of 11 kids, no one had the time or probably the culinary know-how to get too fancy, so meals still remained pretty much on a simple yet hardy scale.  In turn....that was the kind of cook my mom was for us kids. She was not fancy....just straight forward. She never strayed from the basics but we never went hungry. While I think my first recipe....Mom's Meatloaf was a creation of Mom's which I have tweaked a little over the years, my second recipe.....Mashed Potato Salad came from my grandmother. Both were favorites of mine growing up and have been made numerous times over the years for my kids. They are the essence of comfort foods to me and take me back to wonderful times with my mom every time I make them. I hope you try them out and then let me know what you think.

Mom's Meatloaf

1lb hamburger meat
1 beef bouillon cube
1 c. boiling water
Approximately 1 c. Pepperidge Farm stuffing mix (whichever kind you like)
1 med. onion minced
1 pkg. Lipton onion soup mix
1 small can mushrooms (drained)
2 eggs
1 TBSP. Worcestershire Sauce
1-2 TBSP. Parmesean Cheese

Add beef boullion cube to 1 c. boiling water. Set aside.
In a large bowl, crumble up raw hamburger meat. Crack the eggs into the meat and mix by hand. Then add the onion, onion soup mix (dry), mushrooms, Worcestershire Sauce and Parmesean  and mix by hand until all is incorporated.
Once bouillon cube is dissolved in boiling water, mix with a spoon. Then add stuffing mix until it is the consistency of a fairly wet stuffing. Then add to meat mixture. When all is thoroughly mixed, put into a 9x13 Pam sprayed baking dish. Bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees. Remove from oven and drain any grease and then cover top with ketchup. Return to oven for 10 more minutes. Remove and let set about 10 minutes before serving. This is awesome when hot and great the next day for cold meatloaf sandwiches or rewarmed for leftovers. It is my favorite meatloaf of all time.

Mashed Potato Salad

5 lbs. potatoes peeled, boiled and mashed or 8 cups instant mashed potatoes made per directions. (This is one recipe where instant potatoes are awesome)
1 large onion diced
6 hard boiled eggs chopped up
1 small-med.  jar of sweet gherkin pickles chopped up (reserve juice)
1 1/2 c. miracle whip
1/4 c. sugar
1/4 c. cider vinegar
Salt and pepper to taste
Paprika (if desired)

Put mashed potatoes in a large bowl. Add onion, eggs and pickles and mix thoroughly. In a med. size bowl, add miracle whip, sugar, pickle juice and vinegar. Mix until dressing consistency. (Tweak it to your liking. More or less of any ingredient is fine, just give it a good dressing consistency). Mix the dressing into the potatoes. When thoroughly combined add salt and pepper to taste and if desired, sprinkle the top with Paprika. Put in the refrigerator to chill. This is so good with burgers, hot dogs or just about any kind of summer time fare. It is best when chilled 2 or more hours.

Well...there you have it. While I realize that meatloaf and potato salad are an acquired taste to many and even if you like them.....most have their own versions they like, I encourage you to try these two anyway and as always....let me know what you think. 

Here is hoping that your Monday is full of happiness and joy and doesn't turn out to be anything at all like a typical Monday.  Have a great day!