Leftover Meatloaf

Basic Meatloaf Recipe: This will feed about 6 people depending on the age/size of the children & adults.
1 pound of beef
6-8 saltine crackers
onion
grated cheese
2 eggs
whatever you have in your refrigerator that would go well with it (here is an opportunity to use 1-2 tablespoons of corn or peas)
tomato paste

Mix all of the ingredients together and bake in the oven at 350 degrees or until meat is cooked through.  (It takes me about 1 hour).  About 15 minutes before it’s finished top with tomato paste or sauce.   Don’t throw away even a tablespoon that’s left.

Leftover Meatloaf Ideas

If you have only 1 or 2 tablespoons left save it and warm it up the next day and serve on a cracker as an appetizer or  mix with pasta for an easy lunch for a toddler.

If you have a couple of slices left make a meatloaf sandwich the next day for lunch or dinner.  Toast a hamburger bun and top with the leftover meatloaf and top with cheese.

If you have a larger portion left, freeze it and for a quick dinner add some more browned beef and mix with tomato sauce for an easy spaghetti.

My great grandmother was from Italy, and grew up poor, but her family always ate well. She kept a large Tupperware container in her freezer ALWAYS….as do my Mother and Sister and I now……ANY piece of meat that is leftover….meatloaf, chicken, hamburger, steak, roast, pork chops….etc. We put it in our "mystery meat" container. When the container is full….we make spaghetti sauce. Since we cook this all day either on the stove or in the crock pot, the meat will fall apart and you can’t decipher what it is until you bite into it…..but boy is it delicious!  I love your newsletter!  Shelly

Grate leftover meatloaf on 4 sided box grater. Place in lightly oiled casserole and add enough chicken or beef broth to lightly moisten. Stir in leftover vegetables or add frozen peas. Season with basil and freshly ground pepper. Cover with generous amount of mashed potatoes and bake in 350 degree oven until potatoes start to color.  This is our favorite version of Shepherd’s Pie.   

You can chop  it up and put in in a quiche or an omelet, you can mix it in with chilli, you can add it to the meat part of a shepherd’s pie. You can add it to taco meat, bean dip or underneath the cheese for nachos. BBPD

First off, it’d make a great sandwich. Second, I’d grind it up in my food processor to make pre-cooked ground beef, then add it to a 25-cent Mac-and-cheese dinner with a can of tomato sauce or some marinara, and PRESTO! Meat Loaf Helper!! Third, if a food processor isn’t around, I’d try cutting it up into small cubes to add to macaroni, rice, or potatoes for a casserole starter. Another way of making "ground meat" without a food processor–use a potato masher or pastry blender.  Heidi

Just a quick thought on one serving of leftover meatloaf–how about crumbling it and using it as a topping on pizza?  Thanks for the great newsletter  C.W.