Yum... dinner's served!

One of our favorite meals is meatloaf with roasted potatoes. Living on the farm, we raise our own pork, but purchase pasture-raised beef from a friend. Nothing can compare to the deliciousness of home grown meat. Add to that our own eggs and milk from a friend, and you have a meatloaf to die for. Sadly, I only have a picture of the one is progress; the done one didn't survive long enough for a picture. It is even better the second day --- if you have any left!

This recipe comes from Everyone's a Homemaker by Beverly Nye. I started making this when I was first married in a 19.... and have made it since... I wrote Ms. Nye at the time to tell her how fond we were of the recipe and she wrote me the sweetest reply. I wrote her again two years ago to tell her that, after 30 years, it is still our favorite meatloaf. Again, she wrote the kindest note... Give it a try; you are sure to never want to make another recipe again!

Beverly Nye's Meat loaf

1.5 lbs. ground beef
.5 lb. sausage (ours has extra sage 'cause that is how I like it)
3/4 c. milk
2 eggs
1/4 t. nutmeg (isn't that a surprise?)
1/4 t. sage
3/4 c. bread crumbs (I use Italian)
1 t. salt
1/4 c. chopped onions

Mix very lightly with your hands. Place in a 9 x13 pan and shape into a loaf.

Top with:

1/2 c. ketchup
1 t. mustard
3 T. brown sugar

Bake at 350-degrees for 1 hour.

Let me know if it become a favorite!

A Night with Louisa

My gal pal Jackie has a new passion: she has fallen in love with Louisa May Alcott. Add to that the fact that Jackie lives in a log house built in 1860 and that she is stripping it back to the original by herself, you have the makings of a wonderful evening! Now, add nine women, from all different backgrounds, different jobs, different life experiences, but who all love Jackie and Louisa and you know the night was stellar!

Friday night we met at Jackie's at 6:30; everyone brought a covered dish and a soup bowl with spoon. Jackie provided soup, coffee, apple pie (in honor of Louisa!), and the setting. What a lovely house -- candles lit windows, tables, corners and fireplaces. A huge fire roared in the living room and the house felt as if time had stopped in 1863. Perfect!

Everyone was nearly done with their soup when Louisa arrived looking for her father! What a sight to see! She rushed into the house, breathlessly asking: "Father, has he arrived? Marmee sends a message!" The faces of the women around the table and in the various little nooks Jackie had created were delightful! Everyone joined right into the game as Louisa explained how she came to look for father and then made the keen observation that "You must be progressive women! Many of you are bravely wearing Bloomers! How charming! Are you suffargettes?" The laughter exploded as Louisa shared her thoughts on women voting, writing, and her book "Little Women" ("I don't care for it one bit; it is silly pap, but it sells!")

All in all, the night was pure magic and everyone had a wonderful time. There is nothing more pleasurable than a group of women laughing and sharing ideas, don't you agree?

Thanks, Jackie, for a wonderfully magic evening! We love you!