Iowa recipe: Healthier Meatloaf

I'm embarrassed that this is the best photo I got of the meatloaf recipe I recently tried.  The meatloaf didn't stick together that well because I added more ground beef than was called for from the recipe.  So it's my fault; I don't blame the recipe.

One of my favorite blogs is Iowa State University Extension's "Spend Smart. Eat Smart." I've learned a ton about meal planning from this blog and the website that goes with it.  The big take-away that I've learned from this website is that when it comes to meal planning, less is more.  Healthy meals at home don't have to be complicated or expensive.  Just keep your pantry stocked with ingredients for easy meals that your family enjoys. 

I used to buy groceries whenever our cupboards were bare, and then I'd go on a huge shopping trip and fill my cart until it was overflowing. But after following the advice from ISU Extension, now I go shopping once a week, and I'm more careful to plan my meals around what is on sale. It's made my trips to the grocery store a lot less stressful and helps me manage my food budget better.

In February, the "Spend Smart. Eat Smart" website featured this recipe for Mouthwatering Meatloaf. I loved the healthy ingredients: shredded carrots, oats and skim milk.  So I gave it a try and was very happy with the results.  It's a pretty basic recipe, but you can play around with the spices if you want.  My husband added a little mustard in the ketchup topping before we placed it back in the oven to finish cooking.  We also liked that the recipe says to cook the meatloaf on a broiler pan so the fat drips away.

Oh, and if you're wondering, you can't taste the carrots in the finished dish, so I'm sure kids will like this meatloaf, too!  Please let me know what you think if you give it a try.

Iowa Caucus Recipe: Grassley Family Meatloaf

With the 2012 Iowa Caucus just a few days away, I thought it would be fun to share a politically inspired recipe on my blog.

To be honest, I've been glued to my TV the last week, watching the pre-Iowa caucus coverage. Of course, I want to hear what the presidential candidates have to say (I'm still an undecided voter).  But I'm also getting a kick out of seeing the places where the presidential candidates are visiting in Iowa.  It's been fun to see all the stump speeches in restaurants, towns and stores I'm familiar with.  I have yet to see a presidential candidate up close and in person, mostly because all of their events are held when I'm at work.  But I'm thinking of driving to Des Moines this weekend to see all the national media in town for the caucuses.

In honor of all the caucus excitement, I prepared a special dinner at home.  I inherited a stack of cookbooks from my grandmother, and in her recipe clippings, I found a pamphlet of recipes from Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley's family, dated 2004.  If I remember correctly, it was the year when Grassley ran virtually unopposed for the Iowa Senate seat.  He's a very well-respected politician in our state.

I decided to try the Grassley's "Tasty Meatloaf" recipe, since my husband and I were a little tired of eating Christmas ham leftovers.  It's pretty much a standard meatloaf recipe, with the spicy addition of chili powder.  I also "frosted" the meatloaf with ketchup, just like my husband likes it. Definitely a comfort food favorite -- and a winner on caucus night or any night of the year. The recipe is below, if you want to give it a try.  Enjoy!

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Tasty Meat Loaf

From Grassley Family Favorites

• 1-1/2 pound ground beef
• 1 C. oatmeal (uncooked)
• 2 eggs
• 1/4 C. (or more) chopped onion
• 1 Tbl. worcestershire sauce
• 1 tsp. chili powder
• 1/4 tsp. pepper
• 1 Tbl. ketchup
• 2 tsp. salt
• 1 C. milk

Mix all ingredients thoroughly -- hands work best.  Shape into two meat loaves.  Put crosswise in 9 x 13 cake pan.  Pour water around the loaves. (I skipped this step, and it turned out fine.)  Bake in a 350 degree oven until loaves are brown -- 45 minutes to 1 hour.  (Note: I like to spread ketchup on top after 45 minutes of bake time, then pop it in the oven for the remaining 15 minutes.)