Figuring out dinner . . .

A friend was asking me about how to cook something and suddenly exclaimed, "You don't follow recipes, do you?" No, over the years, I have been able to adapt my cooking to what is in the house but it took some practice and a few trials and errors. Thankfully, if you don't burn the food, even the errors are edible and you learn from them. Timing is the key as everything needs to be done pretty much at the same time. That's why, when I'm pressed for time, I try and make meals that go into the oven or pot together and are ready within seconds of each other. And, no, this doesn't mean a boring meal. Thought I'd try and share some dinner recipes that include all that is needed for a tasty presentation to your family and/or friends. You will look amazing and get some culinary smarts incorporated into your thought processes! One of my earlier successes in the kitchen was meatloaf. Meatloaf lends itself nicely to just about anything you want to add to it. The basic recipe is: 2-3 pounds of ground beef (this depends on how many you are serving) 1 large onion, finely chopped 2-3 eggs 1-2 cups bread crumbs Salt and pepper to taste Combine all the ingredients and lightly pan into a rounded loaf and place in a baking dish with sides. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-45 minutes depending on side of meatloaf. Basic recipe and you will have a good meal, however . . . Brown some peeled garlic cloves in a bit of butter until golden, chop them up, and add to the basic recipe. 1/4 cup chopped bacon added to the recipe gives it a new flavor. Add 1/2 cup grated sharp chedder. Better yet, add it with the bacon and get a baked cheeseburger effect. A small can of diced chili peppers put some zing into your meatloaf. Brush your unbaked meatloaf with catsup. It gives it a slightly sweet glaze. Brush your unbaked meatloaf with barbecue sauce. 1/4 cup of crumbled Feta cheese takes you to Greece . . . sort of! Okay, you have decided on your meatloaf flavor for the day. What to do about the side dishes that will be required for a balanced meal. Potatoes always go great with meatloaf. Scrub two or three potatoes (depending, again, on servings needed), quarter, toss with a bit of oil, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika. Arrange them around your unbaked meatloaf and put the whole thing in the oven at 350 degrees for approximately 30-45 minutes based on size. Scrub enough potatoes so each person has one. Make a shallow cut along one side so potato won't explode during baking. Baked potatoes that will cook along side your meatloaf. These potatoes can sit directly on the oven rack not in the meatloaf pan. Peel and dice your potatoes. Place the potatoes along with a tablespoon of salt in a large pot and bring to a simmer. Cook until the potatoes are just done. Drain the water and put the potatoes back into the pot. Add butter, milk, and pepper and just roughly mash down. Vegetables? Corn on the cob. A salad. Carrot and celery sticks with a dish of olives. You have lots of time to figure the third option out because your meatloaf is cooking on it's own!