Len's Recipe of the Month - January 2020

You think you know meat loaf?   Well, everybody does.   It is one of those classic American comfort food dinners.   And it's pretty basic.   Until yours truly comes along and jazzes the whole thing up with one single ingredient.

Sriracha sauce.   

This was my own experiment and I am happy to report the results with success.

Follow me.

Preheat your oven to 165 degrees.

Dice 1 medium onion and, for best results, saute the pieces in a skillet until translucent.   Shift to a big mixing bowl.

Add 2 pounds of ground beef, 80% lean.   You can substitute ground turkey as well.

Add 3 tablespoons of ground parsley.

3/4 cup of Panko bread crumbs.

1/3 cup of whole milk.

Lightly beat two eggs and mix them in.   

Add 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder.

One teaspoon of ground pepper.

One teaspoon of Kosher salt.

Three tablespoons of your favorite ketchup.

Now you know what happens next.   Get your hands dirty.   The chef's best tools.

Don't pack the loaf too densely.   The meat needs air to breathe.   

Line either a loaf pan or a cookie sheet with parchment paper.

Lay the meat loaf on top.   Pop it in the oven.

While that is cooking, prep your glaze.  In a bowl, add the following:

3/4 cup of your favorite ketchup.

1 and 1/2 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar.

2 and 1/2 tablespoons of brown sugar.

And now the big add.....

1 tablespoon of Sriracha sauce.

Mix well.

At the 45 minute mark of cooking, lather the glaze on top of the meat and then it go for another 20 minutes.  Ideal internal temperature is 165.

Let the meat rest under a foil tent for 15 minutes before slicing.

And enjoying.

You're welcome.

Dinner last night:  Pepperoni pizza at Gianna's.