Alright, alright, let’s talk about this… uh…leftover meatloaf casserole stuff. My old man, he used to make meatloaf, big ol’ thing, enough to feed the whole darn neighborhood. But you know, even with him stuffin’ his face, there was always some left over. Waste not, want not, I always say. So, we gotta figure out what to do with that leftover meatloaf, right? Make it taste good again, not like some dried-out shoe.
So, first things first, you gotta have that leftover meatloaf. Don’t go makin’ a fresh one just for this. That ain’t the point, see? We’re bein’ thrifty here, usin’ up what we got. Now, how long that meatloaf lasts? Well, I reckon you can keep it in that there icebox, the…re-frig-er-a-tor, for three, maybe four days. Wrap it up tight, like you’re huggin’ a grandbaby, keep it from gettin’ all dry and nasty.
- Keep it Cold: Wrap that meatloaf up tight in foil or put it in a tight container. Gotta keep it fresh.
- No Old Meatloaf: Don’t use meatloaf that’s been sittin’ around forever. Three or four days in the fridge is about it.
Now, all them fancy recipes, they all start the same, I hear. Ground meat, lots of it, and then some bread or crackers soaked in milk. Eggs too, gotta have eggs to hold it all together. But we ain’t makin’ the meatloaf, we’re fixin’ the leftover stuff! So, this here leftover meatloaf casserole, it’s about makin’ that old meatloaf taste new again.
Here’s how I do it, simple and good. You get yourself a pan, a casserole dish, whatever you call it. Grease it up a bit, so nothin’ sticks. Then, you crumble up that leftover meatloaf in there. Don’t be shy, break it up good.
Then comes the good stuff. You can use whatever you got on hand, really. I like to throw in some canned tomatoes, the diced ones, they work real good. And maybe some corn, or peas, whatever vegetables you got lyin’ around. Don’t be wastin’ nothin’! If you got some leftover mashed potatoes, heck yeah, throw them in too! Makes it nice and creamy.
Now, for the sauce… you can keep it simple. Some folks like that tomato soup, the canned stuff. Just pour it right over the top. Or, you can mix up some ketchup and mustard, maybe a little bit of brown sugar if you like it sweet. I ain’t picky, long as it tastes good. And if you got a jar of that there bar-b-que sauce, that’ll work too.
And cheese! Gotta have cheese. Whatever kind you got, cheddar, mozzarella, that yellow stuff, it all melts good. Sprinkle that all over the top, don’t be stingy now.
Then, you stick it in the oven, you know, that hot box thing in the kitchen. Bake it till it’s hot and bubbly, maybe 350 degrees for… I dunno…half an hour or so. You’ll know when it’s done, when the cheese is all melted and gooey and it smells good enough to eat.
Here are a few more ideas for makin’ it your own, see? You can add some cooked onions, or peppers, if you like that kinda thing. Or maybe some cooked rice or noodles. Like I said, whatever you got on hand. This ain’t no fancy restaurant, it’s about usin’ what you got and makin’ a good meal.
And don’t forget the spices! Salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder… whatever you like. Don’t be afraid to experiment. That’s how you learn to cook good, just by tryin’ stuff out.
So there you have it, leftover meatloaf casserole. It’s easy, it’s cheap, and it’s darn good eatin’. And best of all, it keeps you from throwin’ away good food. Now go on and make yourself some, you won’t be sorry.
Here’s a quick reminder of what you need:
- Leftover meatloaf, crumbled up
- Canned vegetables (tomatoes, corn, peas, whatever)
- Mashed potatoes (if you got ‘em)
- Sauce (tomato soup, ketchup & mustard, BBQ sauce)
- Cheese, lots of it
- Spices (salt, pepper, garlic powder, etc.)
Bake it at 350 degrees until hot and bubbly. And that’s it! Easy peasy, lemon squeezy.
Now, some folks, they like to get all fancy with their leftover meatloaf casserole. They add all kinds of stuff, like mushrooms, or olives, or even pineapple. I ain’t sayin’ that’s wrong, but to me, it’s just too much fuss. Keep it simple, that’s what I say. Good food don’t need to be complicated.
And that leftover meatloaf casserole, it’s good for any time of day. You can have it for supper, or lunch, or even breakfast if you’re feelin’ adventurous. Just heat it up and dig in. It’s the kinda food that sticks to your ribs and keeps you goin’ all day long.
So, next time you got leftover meatloaf, don’t you go throwin’ it away. Make yourself some of this casserole. Your belly will thank you, and your pocketbook too.
