Elle's Easy Meatloaf - 2 Ways!

Some people like their meatloaf with a nice tomato glaze. Others prefer a gravy. I love both ways or, even better, both ways together! The stove top stuffing adds such beautiful spices and the mustard in the glaze adds the perfect amount of zing. This is such an easy recipe and, is the perfect size for us to have it for 3 meals, which I love. I do find that the gravy doesn't freeze well so I usually make fresh gravy to go with the leftovers.

Servings: 6

Ingredients

2 large eggs
1/2 cup water
6 ounce box Stove Top stuffing mix any flavor
2 pounds lean ground beef
1/4 cup ketchup
 
Tomato Glaze
1 cup ketchup
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 tsps Worcestershire sauce
1 to 2 tsp yellow mustard (depending on how much 'zip' you like)
 
Mushroom Gravy (optional)
3 tbsp unsalted butter
¼ cup shallot chopped
2 cloves garlic minced
8 oz mushrooms sliced
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
¼ cup all-purpose flour
3 tbsp balsamic vinegar
2 cups beef stock
¼ tsp Kosher salt
¼ tsp ground black pepper
1 tbsp flat-leaf parsley fresh, for garnish, optional

Steps

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray a 9×13″ baking pan or dish with non-stick cooking spray; set aside.
In a large mixing bowl, whisk the eggs and water together until well combined.
Add the stuffing mix, ground beef, and 1/4 cup of ketchup. Use your hands to mix the ingredients together until well combined.
Transfer the meat to the baking dish and shape the meat into a loaf (or you can put it in a loaf pan for the shape and invert onto the 9 x 13 pan and remove the loaf pan if you want it to look prettier than hand shaping it)
Combine all ingredients for the glaze and brush the meatloaf evenly with the glaze.
Bake at 350°F for 55 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes then slice and serve with mushroom gravy (optional)
MUSHROOM GRAVY
In a large skillet, melt the butter over medium-high heat.
Add the shallots and cook until soft, about 2 to 4 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for another 1 minute.
Add the mushrooms and cook, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned and have released their liquids, about 8 minutes.
Whisk in the flour and stir to coat. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes.
Add the balsamic and then the stock. Use a whisk to incorporate the flour into the liquid. Slowly simmer and stir until thickened, about 4 to 5 minutes.
Season with salt and pepper. Keep warm over low heat.

Elle's Easy Homemade Mayonnaise

This is very easy and makes up the right amount that I can use it up within a few days and not have it go bad. SO much healthier than the mayonnaise that is out there made from seed / soybean oil. Just put it all in a jar, put the immersion blender on the bottom and, with it on, slowly bring it up as you watch it turn into 'mayo'! That's it. 

Ingredients

¾ cup light olive oil
1 large egg
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper (Optional)

Steps

Place light olive oil, egg, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper together in a bowl. Use a hand-held immersion blender to blend mixture together, placing the blade directly on top of the egg yoke. Pull up the immersion blender slowly when fully emulsified, taking care not to over blend. Store in a tightly closed container; refrigerate until using.

Notes

You can substitute avocado oil for olive oil, if desired

Elle's Killer Twice Baked Potatoes

These are seriously the BEST twice baked potatoes...at least Mark says so! I think it is the variety of cheeses that make the stuffing so creamy and rich. Let me know if you agree!

 Ingredients

2 russet potatoes
1 wedge original laughing cow cheese
1 oz cream cheese
1/4 C shredded colby jack cheese
1/4 C shredded parmesan cheese
dash of garlic powder
bacon, optional
green onions

Steps

Pierce potatoes with a fork and cook in microwave till tender
Let cool
Cut off top (about 1/4") and then cut around the edge of the potato to scoop out the guts
Put the potato guts in a bowl and finely chop and then mince with a fork till smooth
Add remaining ingredients minus green onions
Stuff potato shells with filling and press green onions on top for a garnish
You can wrap at this point in saran wrap and foil and freeze. If frozen, pull the night beforehand and allow to thaw in the fridge
Put in oven or air fryer at 375F to 400F for 8 to 12 minutes or till cheese is melted and they are slightly brown and very hot

Notes

You can double, triple or adjust to whatever you want. All quantities are approximate but, the various cheeses are what make these so amazing. v

MaryEllen's 4 Ingredient Slow Cooker Pork Chops

My good friend MaryEllen gave me permission to post this. It is so easy and really good. Mark thinks he doesn't like pork chops but every time I make this he has to admit that he loves it! Easy and delicious and makes leftovers - you can't ask for more than that!

Servings: 4

Ingredients

4 pork chops dusted with s&p
1/2 packet brown gravy
1/2 packet onion soup mix
1 can cream soup (mushroom)

Steps

Mix all in crock pot
Cook on low for 5 to 6 hours till done

Sunday Chat: Reason For The Season

Saying, “Where is he 

who has been born 

king of the Jews? 

For we saw his star 

when it rose and 

have come to worship him.” 

Matthew 2:2 

And behold, 

the star they had seen 

in the east went on before them, 

until it came to rest 

over the place where the Child was. 

When they saw the star, 

they rejoiced exceedingly 

with great gladness. 

Matthew 2:9-10 

For to us a child is born, 

to us a son is given; 

and the government 

shall be upon his shoulder, 

and his name shall be called 

Wonderful Counselor, 

Mighty God, Everlasting Father, 

Prince of Peace. 

Isaiah 9:6 

And when they had come into the house, 

they saw the young Child  

with Mary His mother, 

and fell down 

and worshiped Him. 

And when they had opened 

their treasures, 

they presented gifts to Him: 

gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 

Matthew 2:11 

Each one must give as  

he has decided in his heart,  

not reluctantly or under compulsion,  

for God loves a cheerful giver. 

2  Corinthians 9:7 

Every good gift and  

every perfect gift is from above,  

coming down from the Father of lights  

with whom there is no variation  

or shadow due to change. 

James 1:17 

 

Give, and it will be given to you.  

Good measure,  

pressed down, shaken together,  

running over, will be put into your lap.  

For with the measure you use it  

will be measured back to you.” 

Luke 6:38 

 

Whoever is generous to the poor  

lends to the Lord,  

and he will repay him for his deed. 

Proverbs 19:17 

In all things I have shown you  

that by working hard in this way  

we must help the weak and  

remember the words of the Lord Jesus,  

how he himself said,  

‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” 

Acts 20:35 

Let your moderation  

be known unto all men.  

Philippians 4:5 

 

If you have found honey,  

eat only enough for you,  

lest you have your fill of it and vomit it. 

Proverbs 25:16 

Jesus said to him, 

“I am the way, 

and the truth, 

and the life. 

No one comes to the Father 

except through me. 

John 14:6