Meatloaf:

This is how I make meatloaf. I like making meatloaf, because you can use what you already have in the house ... as long as the end product is tasty and moist, your ingredients can vary to a certain degree. Here is what I used this time:

* A big package of hamburger
* 2 eggs
* spices (salt, pepper, whatever sounds good that you have on hand)
* 2 chopped onions
* garlic
* 1 green apple (first time I've used one of those, but it adds flavor and moisture)
* Teiryaki sauce (you can also use soy sauce, worstershire and/or steak sauce)
* Oatmeal
* cheese
* tomato sauce or ketchup


Preheat the oven to 400*. Take off your rings and wash your hands really well.

Crumble the hamburger into a large bowl:




Add two eggs, the onion, the apple, the teryaki and/or other sauces, the garlic and the spices:




Use both hands to evenly mix all of the ingredients. It will be gushy, and that is the way you want it.:




When everything is mixed up and gushy, slowly add the instant oatmeal. Start with a cup or so your first time you make this, and squish it in with your hands, distributing the oatmeal evenly through the meat mixture. Add more oatmeal, if needed, to provide firmness. The oatmeal will expand during cooking and will soak up moisture:

Now is the time to mold the meatloaf into the pans. I bought some little loaf pans at the dollar store and made up three little meatloaves, because I wanted to share some with Darlene and Grandma. After you have them formed the way you like them, put slices of cheese on top and then pour a little tomato sauce on top of the cheese. Cover them with heavy aluminum foil, with the shiny side down.

In a larger, covered dish, do the same (mold the meatloaf, top with cheese and tomato sauce). Put everything on a cookie sheet and bake in the oven for about
1 1/2 hours.

In a larger, covered dish, do the same with the cheese and tomato sauce. Place all containers on a cookie sheet and bake in the oven for 1 1/2 hours or so. You can also throw in some potatoes to bake at the same time.

Yummy!