The Most Delicious Succulent Meatloaf

 

Pictures: Meatloaf  with the Vegetable Puree.

During War Time, Victory Gardens and unrationed loaves of bread could really stretch a meal and add an abundance of nutrition to rations.  Meatloaf was one of those meals and if I can just tell you this, this is the best damn meatloaf I’ve ever had!  I barely got a picture and had to edit out the ends because someone’s fork (mine) found it’s way in to take a little taste.  Here is the recipe!  Add whatever spices you like and remember, the meatloaf will be super moist before you cook it so it will be super moist when you take it out of the oven. I also just sauteed some mushrooms in a little white wine to put over top with a package of gravy and dried herbs.  All very tasty! 

Put oven to 350 degrees.  Cooking time 45-60 minutes 

Mix up the following two separate “pastes” for the meatloaf

*Panade:  A panade is a paste you make from bread and milk that you add to meatloaf to keep the meat tender and moist.  Put cubed bread into a bowl and pour the milk over it, mashing it so that all of the bread gets soaked in the milk.  You want just enough milk to cover bread and so that the cubes gently soak it all up (see amounts below).

*Puree:  In a blender, blend raw carrots,  celery, and onion, with a little water (start with just a couple of tbsp.) to turn into a paste (see amounts below).

 Here is what you will need for everything including the 2 pastes:

2 packages of lean organic hamburger (I used Costco brand and was 1.3 lbs. each)

*2-4 cups cubed bread.  I used 2 submarine sandwich buns in my freezer and cut into small cubes

* I cup milk

*3 small or 2 medium carrots, peeled and chopped 

*1 large onion, diced

*4 medium celery, trimmed and chopped

2 eggs

1-1/2 cups grated Parmesan cheese

¼ c. dried oregano

1 tbsp. garlic powder

½ tbsp. salt

Pepper

1 regular sized  tin diced tomatoes, drained

Optional, an extra cup of seasoned dried breadcrumbs if you like to add more to mixture if meat is too moist.

Add all of the above ingredients to hamburger in a bowl, including the panade and the vegetable puree and mix well.  The meat loaf mixture will be very moist but not wet.  If too wet for your liking add a cup of seasoned breadcrumbs to mixture – it will still be amazingly delicious.  Put meatloaf into a Pam Sprayed casserole dish and bake at 350 degrees for approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour.  Top is you like with fresh or dried herbs, sauteed mushrooms and serve with gravy - I just buy those packets and whip up for whoever wants it.