Meatloaf is one of our favorite comfort foods. It's satisfying, it's easy to make, and it gives you that same cozy feeling as Mom's apple pie or a steamy bowl of chicken noodle soup. It's a great way to experiment with new flavor combinations and add surprises. Sneak in nutritious additions for your veggie-haters and add tasty tidbits for more flavor, texture and variety.
Nobody can resist a steaming plate of juicy meatloaf and fluffy mashed potatoes .
The mixture can be stretched with veggies, bread and grains. When you're ready to compose your meatloaf masterpiece, start with fresh or dry bread crumbs, seasoned stuffing mix, crushed crackers, rolled oats, textured vegetable protein or bulgur that's been plumped in warm water. Try a little crumbled blue cheese or feta, or grate some Parmesan or Cheddar into the mix. To add a little extra excitement to your meatloaf, use half of the meatloaf mixture to form a bottom layer a couple of inches thick, then lay a few rows of long, thin strips of vegetables such as carrots, bell peppers, or asparagus spears down the length of it. Use the rest of the meatloaf mixture to cover up the veggies, being sure to seal the edges completely.