Alright, alright, let’s get down to business with this here spicy meatloaf. You know, the kind that makes your mouth water and your belly happy. Not that fancy stuff, mind you. Just good, plain eatin’ that fills you up and keeps you goin’.
First off, you gotta get yourself some meat. Ground beef, that’s what I use. Don’t go gettin’ that fancy organic stuff unless you got money to burn. Just plain ol’ ground beef, about two pounds or so, that’s what the recipe calls for, see? You can get it at any store, even that fancy one down the road, they sell it, too. But it’s expensive there, the butcher down the street got good meat, cheaper than them.
Now, for the spicy part. That’s where things get interestin’. You need some spices, see? I use a bit of this, a bit of that. Some folks like it hot, some folks like it mild. Me? I like it somewhere in between. Gotta have a kick, but not so much it burns your mouth off. I use some chili powder, and some red pepper flakes, about a teaspoon each. If you like it hotter, you can use more, I won’t tell. If your kids gonna eat it, don’t put too much in it, they can’t eat too spicy, makes them cough and cry.
- Chili powder: Gives it that nice warm heat.
- Red pepper flakes: For that extra little kick.
- Black pepper: Gotta have black pepper, it just makes everything taste better.
- Garlic powder: Don’t use too much, or your breath will stink, but a little bit is good.
Then you need somethin’ to hold it all together. Breadcrumbs, that’s what I use. You can use crackers too, if that’s what you got. Just crush ’em up real good, and soak them in milk. Yep, milk. Makes the meatloaf soft and juicy, not all dry and crumbly. Some folks use water, but I like milk, makes it richer you know. About half a cup of milk or so, just enough to make the bread all soggy. And you gonna need some eggs, about two of them, to make sure everything holds together good.
Now, mix it all up. Get your hands in there, don’t be afraid to get dirty. Mix it real good, until everything’s all combined. You gotta really mix it, so the spice goes in everywhere, you don’t want just one spicy spot, you want the spice everywhere in that meatloaf.
Then, you gotta put it in a pan. I use a loaf pan, that’s what it’s called, a loaf pan. But you can use any pan you got, really. Just make sure it’s big enough to hold all that meat. Pat it down nice and even, so it cooks all the way through. You don’t want one part cooked and one part raw, now do ya? Gotta be cooked all the way.
Now for the cookin’. I put it in the oven at, let’s see, about 350 degrees, I think. That’s how hot you make your oven for most things, isn’t it? For about an hour, maybe a little longer. You gotta check it, see? Make sure it’s cooked all the way through. Stick a knife in it, if it comes out clean, it’s done. If it’s still pink, you gotta cook it some more.
And that’s it. Spicy meatloaf. It ain’t fancy, but it’s good eatin’. Serve it up with some mashed potatoes and gravy, maybe some green beans on the side. That’s a meal fit for a king, or a farmer, or anyone with a good appetite.
Now, some folks, they like to put extra stuff in their meatloaf. Like onions, or peppers, or even cheese. You can do that too, if you want. It’s your meatloaf, you can make it however you like. I sometimes add some chopped onion, if I got some, and if I remember. And if I am in a mood for it. If you gonna use onion, chop it up real small. You don’t want big chunks of onion, you don’t want just an onion in there, you want a little bit of onion flavor.
And that’s my classic spicy meatloaf recipe, hope you like it. It’s simple enough that anyone can make it, even you. It’s an easy to follow recipe, takes about an hour in the oven, and its delicious and it fills you up. Now get in the kitchen and make something good for yourself. Don’t go hungry.
And one more thing, don’t forget to wash your hands after you touch all that raw meat. You don’t want to get sick, do you? And clean up after yourself, nobody likes a messy kitchen. That’s all, go on now, and make some meatloaf.