On Sun, 11 Oct 2009 11:05:20 -0400, George >
wrote:

>Andy wrote:
>> George Leppla said...
>>
>>> "bob edwards" > wrote in message
>>> ...
>>>> My ladyfriend occasionally makes a meat loaf for me but it falls apart
>>>> when I try to slice it. What should she do to make it hold together
>>>> better? Use less fluid, use less lean meat, what?
>>> The meat is probably too lean and she doesn't have enough bread crumbs.
>>>
>>> Tell her to try using 80/20 ground chuck, add about one raw egg per
>>> pound and enough bread crumbs to hold it together. As it cooks, some of
>>> the fat and juices are absorbed by the bread crumbs and that, along with
>>> the eggs, helps bind things together.
>>>
>>> I don't use recipes much, but here is how I made the last meatloaf...
>>>
>>> 2.5 pounds of 80/20 ground beef
>>> 1 large onion diced small
>>> 2 eggs
>>> bread crumbs (I'm guessing about a cup +/-)
>>> Salt (I used Lawreys)
>>> pepper
>>> parsley flakes
>>> I can of diced tomatoes, thoroughly drained.
>>> Catsup for the top.
>>>
>>> This is a pretty basic recipe but then, my Grandma was a pretty basic
>>> cook. Over the years I have tried adding different things to the recipe
>>> but I always seem to come back to the basics. It is my family's version
>>> of comfort food.
>>>
>>> George L
>>
>>
>> George L,
>>
>> Excuse me but...
>>
>> How UNSPECIFIC can a recipe get.
>>
>> One large onion... give us grams!
>> 2 Eggs... which size?
>> Salt... how much?
>> 1 can diced tomatoes... how large a can?
>> Catsup for the top... how much?
>>
>> ???
>>
>> Good God man, you're joking?!?
>>
>> No cookbook would be that vague.
>>
>> Andy
>
>I don't believe he was authoring a cook book. What he wrote is exactly
>how I cook. You get to know the ranges of proportions and what goes with
>what etc. and just do it.

Don't need any stinkin' meat loaf recipe. I wish I had my exes meat
loaf recipe, was the one thing she did well... consisted of a mixture
of canned salmon, cottage cheese, egg, bread crumbs, and frozen mixed
vegetables.. probably some seasoning, etc. all stuffed into a loaf pan
and baked. Only thing I was sorry I told her it was good because then
she made it twice week.