Lazy Man's Dinner

Sometimes the situation just calls for laid back, easy (not lazy) comfort food and last night was one of those nights.  We had spent a lion's share of our day in the doctor's office pondering the events of last week and wondering where we go from here so when dinner time came it was just fitting that we slow down, take stock and relax.  I forgot to take creative shots of the final product but I did manage to get the ones of the dinner in process.  Menu:  Bar-b-que meatloaf, rice with chicken stock and sauteed onions, good old fashioned slow cooked black eyed peas and finally, wait for it... slices of red deliciousness that can only be compared to heaven!  The best tomatoes of the year bar none!

Meatloaf:

Ground chuck and ground pork (ground a second time at home in the food processor) probably a pound plus
Onion Salt*
Garlic Powder*
S&P*
Dry Beef Bouillon (I love Goya powdered beef style and anything GOYA)* 
Sauteed onions, red peppers and garlic (any kind you have are fine)
Panko bread crumbs (a cup maybe) ground an extra time in the processor
1/2 C. milk (I used 1/2 and 1/2 because I love the richness)
Bacon
Ketchup mixed with brown sugar, spicy mustard and some of the sauteed garlic

*I can't really tell you how much I use because I cook by the "seat of my pants" so just use your judgment and put as much on as you would if you were seasoning burgers maybe? 

TIP OF THE DAY:  To insure you like the seasoning, I take a tiny bit of the mixture out after I season it and fry it up quickly (the size of a quarter maybe) and taste it that way you can adjust the mixture before you cook the entire meatloaf and you are less likely to be surprised at the end!

After I reprocess the meat - it makes the meat more tender to me but if you prefer leave it be and use the way it is - I season it with the seasonings and add the sauteed veggies, panko and milk and about a 1/4 C. of the ketchup sauce.  Save the remaining sauce for the top.  (You can also use tomato sauce in place of ketchup but I like the sweetness of the ketchup.)  Place a slice or two of bacon on the bottom of an aluminum foil lined pan (you will thank me later because the cleanup is nill).  After thoroughly mixing the mixture, form into a loaf and place on top of the bacon.  Pour remaining sauce directly on top of the loaf and place more bacon on top (I cut a piece in half and use the two halves but it is totally up to you depending on your level of bacon love!)  Bake in 375 degree oven about an hour.  Be sure to let this rest before you try to slice it - you will thank me for that tip!

Seasoned Rice w/ Sauteed Onions:

Cook rice according to package and yes, I think good rice makes a HUGE difference.  I prefer some type of aromatic rice, Basmati or Jasmine, it is worth the cost.  Come on, rice only costs like a dollar, so don't skimp here!  Instead of just water, use chicken stock to flavor your water, again love, love, love the GOYA chicken seasoning.  Add sauteed onions, maybe a 1/4 cup or so, along with some butter.  I had a cooked piece of bacon laying around so I plopped it right on top while it cooked and the flavor it added was really good - kind of mimicked the bacon on the meatloaf. 

Slow Cooked Blackeyed Peas:

If I have to tell you how to make black eyed peas, you probably aren't reading this far because you need more direction that I am able to provide.  There are lots of really precise cooks out there - I'm just not one of them!  If you are still reading, yea, just add some bacon, beef seasoning, onion, couple of good shakes of Crystal Hot sauce and a good bit of salt and let it do it's thing while you tend to more important things like making something chocolate for dessert!

The Best for Last!  Slices of Heaven!

I will not insult your intelligence by giving one iota of instruction here.  (Not sure of the exact definition of "iota" and it may not even be a word but one my grandmother made up to mean "bit".)  Just let your common sense lead you to peel or not peel (depending upon your locality), then slice and add a tiny plop of mayo on top, S&P and put on the plate next to the beautiful yellow rice on your plates.

Enjoy your dinner followed by something chocolate........