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A Meat and Potatoes Meal You'll Love

By Monica Resinger

Here's a meal that my family loves and the foods compliment each other really well. The food items aren't necessarily new, but the flavors are and that makes a big difference.

The meal
Honey Barbecue Meatloaf
Ranch Mashed Potatoes
Your choice of vegetable (I just heat up a can of green beans or corn)
Apple Cinnamon Muffins with Honey Cinnamon Butter

Make ahead tips: You can make the Honey Cinnamon Butter ahead of time and refrigerate until serving. You can also prepare the meat loaf and refrigerate it before baking.

Honey Barbecue Meat Loaf
I'm not usually a meat loaf eater but I love this one and the family does too.

Ingredients:
1 envelope dry onion soup mix
1 egg
1/2 cup oats -- quick cooking
1/3 cup barbecue sauce -- honey flavored
1/4 cup chopped onion
2 Tablespoons brown sugar
1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 Tablespoon mustard -- prepared
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon chili powder
1 pound ground beef
Ketchup

Directions:
In a large bowl, stir together soup mix, egg, oats, barbecue sauce, onion, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, garlic powder, salt, pepper and chili powder. Add beef and mix well. Press into an ungreased 8-in. x 4-in. x 2-in. loaf pan. Bake at 350 degrees F for 1 hour. Top with ketchup. Bake 5 to 10 minutes longer or until meat is no longer pink and a meat thermometer reads 160 degrees F. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

Ranch Mashed Potatoes
Make regular mashed potatoes but with the following changes:

  • Omit the butter
  • Replace some of the milk with Ranch dressing (I prefer either Uncle Dans or Hidden Valley Ranch mixes, prepared)
  • Add 2 to 3 Tablespoons of cream cheese
  • Top with shredded cheddar and, if you wish, bacon bits

    Apple Cinnamon Muffins
    My kids love these (so do I) so there's never any leftovers. We also make them for breakfast. Be sure to try them with Honey Cinnamon Butter (recipe follows).

    Ingredients:
    1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
    1/2 cup sugar
    1 3/4 teaspoons baking powder
    1/2 teaspoon salt
    1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
    1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
    1 egg
    1/2 cup milk
    3 Tablespoons vegetable oil
    3 Tablespoons applesauce
    1 medium tart apple -- peeled and grated topping:
    1/4 cup packed brown sugar
    1 Tablespoon all-purpose flour
    2 tablespoons butter or margarine -- cold
    1/2-cup oatmeal -- old fashioned

    Directions:
    In a bowl, combine the first six ingredients. Add the egg, milk, oil and applesauce and stir until just moistened. Fold in apple. Fill greased or paper-lined muffin cups two-thirds full.

    For topping, combine brown sugar and flour. Cut in butter until crumbly. Stir in oats. Sprinkle over muffins. Bake at 400 degrees F for 18 to 22 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool for 5 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack. Serve warm with Honey Cinnamon Butter (recipe follows). Yield: 1 dozen.

    Honey Cinnamon Butter
    Ingredients:
    1 cup butter or margarine, softened
    1/2 cup honey
    1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

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    Directions:
    Combine all ingredients in a small mixing bowl and beat until smooth. Serve with muffins, toast, bagels, French toast or pancakes. Refrigerate any leftovers. Yield: 1 1/3 cups.the end



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    About the author: Monica Resinger is the founder and editor of The Homemaker's Journal, a FREE, jam-packed daily e-mail e-zine that publishes the collective advice of thousands of homemakers in all home and garden topics! Become a part of The Homemaker's Journal and get or share solutions to your homemaking problems! Join now by sending a blank e-mail to HomemakersJournal-subscribe@yahoogroups.com or, for more information, click here.

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