9.2.12  Cookbooks

You may or may not know this about me.  I love to read cookbooks. Of all the books I donate or give away each year, my cookbooks are seldom in the pile. I have the entire Frugal Gourmet series by Jeff Smith. In spite of his tragic downfall, he had a lot to offer about the tie in between cultures and food.  Here are some other favorites:

Just including this clip makes me want to read it again.  It was published in 2001, and he's released other cookbooks since. 

Maya also has released another cookbook, but this is her first.  It's autobiographical as well as including recipes. 

Trisha also has more than one. I love her recipes, because I often have the ingredients on hand to make them.  

All of these cookbooks, and others as well, have beautiful photography.  All of the authors have something to say, other than about the food itself, and their writer's voices shine through.  

When Em comes home, I make Trisha's meatloaf recipe, mashed potatoes and gravy. It is great leftover.  Dad makes meatloaf sandwhiches out of it.  

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2pounds lean ground beef

20 saltine crackers, crushed

1 large egg, slightly beaten

1/4 cup ketchup

1 tablespoon yellow mustard

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

1 medium onion, chopped (Joe, Dad, and I love this, but I leave it out for Em)

Gently mix the beef, cracker crubms, egg, ketchup, mustard, salt, pepper, and onion, until blended. Shape the mixture into two loaves and place side by side crosswise in a 9x13 pan.  Bake the loaves for 1 hour, or until they are browned.  Transfer to a platter immediately, and allow the loaves to cool slightly, and firm up before slicing. 

Serves 8-10

This is a plain, simple meatloaf.  I like it because the flavor is in it, but no ketchup on top of it! 

Part of my kitchen dream is to have wall to wall lighted shelving, above the basement and pantry doors.  I always wanted to display my cookbooks, instead of having them in the living room!