Mmm ... meatloaf ...

Now that (I think) fall is finally here, I feel that it's more appropriate to make dishes like meatloaf, mashed potatoes, stew, casseroles, and anything that feeds your body AND your soul. Sometimes I think I need someone here to monitor how much I feed my soul, because when my body says, "you're full!," sometimes I don't stop. Especially when it's meatloaf that's this good. Unfortunately, I can't credit myself for this delicious recipe, as it is Kim's Ultimate Meatloaf. I love the combination of sweet and savory in this dish.

The one problem I have with my meatloaf is how it comes out. It ain't too pretty. A lot of liquid seeps out on the sides, and I think only a small percentage is fat. The first 2 times I made it, I put it in a loaf pan, which was a big mistake. Today I made it in a 10x7 glass baking dish, which had a little more room on the sides. Same problem. Next I'll try putting it on a big half sheet pan lined with something so that I can actually cut slices out of it instead of spooning out the crumbled pieces.

I also wasn't crazy about my mashed potatoes tonight. I had a lot of lumps. I used 3 good-sized russets, 2 tablespoons of melted butter, and half a cup of warm milk. Any suggestions for next time?

I know some people don't eat leftover mashed potatoes, but 1. I do and I think they're perfectly fine as long as you heat them up long enough, and 2. You can make great potato pancakes! I'll probably make those along with some scrambled eggs for Saturday morning. Watch for it ;-).