Of course, men aren’t the only ones who appreciate this dish. Kids love it too. Moms like the fact that extra veggies can be sneaked into this one-dish meal and no one will ever be the wiser.
Jake decided it was the perfect “welcome home” meal to bring to Lacy when she was moving into her new place in Coldwater Cove. The meatloaf is warm and satisfying.
Just like him.
Ingredients
8oz Cheddar Cheese, coarsely grated
1 small onion, diced
1 potato, coarsely grated (You can also add grated carrots or any other vegetable you want. I’ve even made this recipe with grated zucchini. Just add more meat and perhaps another egg to make sure the loaf holds together.)
8oz tomato sauce (Try picante sauce for a Mexican flair. My husband likes Jack Daniel’s Original No. 7 barbecue sauce in this recipe. Use your imagination and your family’s preferences.)
2 lbs ground beef (Or ground pork, chicken or turkey. This is a very flexible recipe.)
2 eggs
Sea salt & freshly ground pepper to taste
Directions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Set aside 1/3 cup of tomato sauce. In a large bowl, mix onion, potato (and any other veggie you care to add), ground meat, the remaining tomato sauce, eggs, salt and pepper. Roll up your sleeves and mix it together with your hands to form a loaf. Press the mixture into a loaf pan and top with the 1/3 cup of tomato sauce you set aside.
Bake at 375 degrees for one hour. Sprinkle more grated cheese to melt on top, return to oven for another ten minutes.
Serves 4-6 with some left over.
My husband never minds left-overs. He says sandwiches the next day are the best part of having meatloaf!
“A unique take on what it means to go home again.” —Kristan Higgins, New York Times bestselling author
The lake is crystal blue, the hills roll for miles, and breaking news travels via the Methodist prayer chain. But don’t let the postcard fool you. Coldwater Cove, Oklahoma, leavens its small-town charm with plenty of Ozark snark.
For Lacy Evans, returning to flyover country is the definition of failure. She had everything she wanted—an award-winning design firm, a chic city condo, a handsome, aristocratic almost-fiancé. Then her boyfriend ran off with her receptionist and her clients’ money. Now she’s out of business and crashing on her parents’ couch. When she slides into a booth at the Green Apple Grill, she’s feeling lower than a worm’s belly.
But Lacy’s old classmate Jacob Tyler is happy to see her. Coldwater’s football hero came back from Afghanistan short part of a leg and some peace of mind, but he’s counting his blessings, and Lacy could be one of them. Then there’s her ex, Daniel, wearing a sheriff’s badge and a wedding ring, but looking like young summer love. And a host of unlikely serendipities: the selfless do-gooders who sneak around taming curmudgeons and constructing second chances. The Fighting Marmots. The sprawling, take-no-prisoners Bugtussle clan.
Lacy thought she knew her hometown, and herself. She just wanted to get on her feet and keep running. But the longer she stays, the more she finds to change her mind. . .
“Readers of sweet romance will fall in love with Coldwater Cove. Lexi Eddings’s talent shines in this edgy, fresh story.” —Kristan Higgins, New York Times bestselling author