Iron Skillet Meatloaf

 Iron Hill Brewery closed this week.

I never thought of using an Iron Skillet to make a meatloaf, but it appaerntly renders a crispier crust than glass, ceramic or steel.  apparenly you can also put it under the broiler to crisp up a glaze (which I never use).

I expect it will reduce the cooking time because of the reduced density.

Review to follow.

Ingredients

• ▢1 1/2 lbs ground beef
• ▢1 1/2 lbs ground pork
• 1 LB each Pork and 80% Lean Beef
• ▢1 medium onion chopped

• 
  
• ▢1 1/2 cups panko bread crumbs. 
• 1-2 slice sourdough toasted and chop with food processor ~ 1 cup.
• ▢3/4 cup grated parmesan cheese. 2/3rds cup 
• ▢3/4 cup whole milk
• ▢2 large eggs. ONE
• ▢2 tbls worcestershire sauce
• ▢2 cloves garlic minced. Coarsely chopped
• ▢1 1/2 tsp ground black pepper. (25 turns of the mill)
• ▢2 tsp smoked paprika
• ▢1/2 cup ketchup
• 1 tsp Dijon Mustard
• ▢6 slices bacon
• 
  

Instructions

• Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).  375
• Prepare the meat mixture: In a large mixing bowl, break up the ground beef and ground pork.
• Add the seasonings: To the meat, add the chopped onion, sour dough breadcrumbs, grated parmesan cheese, whole milk, large egg, Worcestershire sauce, minced garlic, ground black pepper, and smoked paprika.
• Mix well: Using your hands, thoroughly combine all the ingredients until well mixed.
• Shape the meatloaf: Transfer the meat mixture into a 10.5-inch cast iron skillet. Press the mixture down gently to fit the pan. Press the edges of the loaf a little lower than the center, creating a slight mound.
• Add the ketchup: Spread a thin, even layer of ketchup over the top of the meatloaf to add flavor and moisture during baking.
• Top with bacon: Layer the bacon strips on top of the ketchup, covering the entire surface of the meatloaf.
• Bake the meatloaf: Place the skillet in the preheated oven and bake for 45 minutes. Keep an eye on it and avoid overcooking, as it can dry out the meatloaf.
• Rest the meatloaf: Once done, remove the skillet from the oven and let the meatloaf rest for 15 minutes. This helps retain the juices and makes it easier to slice.

reduced ingredients

The Original recipe courtesy of 

https://sustainableslowliving.com/how-to-make-cast-iron-skillet-meatloaf/

Shepherd's Pie 2014 St Patty's with Lamb

Shepherds to not shepherd cattle. They herd sheep...  Also, I prefer a meat based gravy to the tomato based sauce.  In a hurry, I'll use jarred gravy, rather than tomato paste / sauce.
It makes for a totally different flavor.

2 Lbs Lamb
1 + 1/2 chopped onion (about 1+ cup)
1/2 Lb Carrots sliced thin (about 1 c. chopped)
1/2 Lb Frozen Peas  (about 1 c. chopped)
4 cloves of garlic
1 C Beef broth (I could not find my frozen lamb stock, I must have used it all.)
2 TBS Worcestershire
1 TBS oil.
1 -2 TBS flour
1/2-1 tsp salt, 1/2-1 tsp pepper, 1/2 tsp rosemary, 1/2 tsp thyme

5 Lbs Potatoes (Only used about three, but leftover mashed, mmm)

1 C Half and Half or Milk

1/4 C Sour Cream

1 Stick of Sweet Butter

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 C grated Cheddar cheese

Preheat oven to 400

Peel and chop the potatoes into 1/2-1" cubes.  Boil in salted water.

Brown the lamb in oil, adding all the spices including Worcestershire sauce.
Remove lamb from pan with a slotted spoon when browned.
Saute the onion and carrots 3 minutes in the leftover juices/oils. Add the garlic, 1 minute more.
Add back the meat, sprinkle in the flour, coating the meat, cooking it and thickening the sause
Add beef broth (use the leftover potato water to make a thicker beef broth from base.)
Simmer until sauce thickens.

Mash the potatoes adding salt, butter, half and half, sour cream, until smooth and creamy.

Place meat filling in casserole.
spread the potatoes over the meat filling
sprinkle with grated cheese.

Bake 20-25 until browned.

Beef Stew = Mt + Sl + Se + St + VG

Where
B = LBS. of Beef Roast (Cubed)
oo = TBS olive oil = B
p = tsp pepper = B
s = tsp NaCl = B x 1.5
O = Onions = B / 2 (Chop Coarse)
FL = Cups of Flour =  B/4
W = Cups Red Wine = B/2
G = Garlic Cloves = B (Chop Fine)

L = Cups Beef Broth = B x 1.5

h = tsp Hungarian Paprika = B/2
bq = tsp Bouquet Garni = B
bl = Bay Leaves = B/2
w = tsp worcestershire sauce = B/2

C = Carrots = B x 1.5 (Chop)
P = Potatoes = B x 1.5 (Dice)
E = Celery Stalks = B/2 (Chopped)
A = Parsnip = B/4 (Sliced)
R = Rutabaga = B/16 (Diced Small)
T= Turnip B/4 (Diced Small)

Hh = High Heat
Hm = Med Heat
Hl = Low Heat

Brown B in oo+s+p, remove and set aside.  Cook O until soft, add FL, thicken, add diced G cook 1 min..  Deglaze with W, bring to simmer.  Add L, B, h, bq, bl, w, and simmer for 1-2 hours. Add C,P,E,A,R,T.  Simmer for 30 Minutes

(B + oo+s+p) x Hh  = Mt
(O + FL + G + W) x Mh  = Sl
(h + bq + bl + w) = Se
(Sl + L + Mt + Se) x Hl = St
(C + P + E + A + R + T) = Vg

Mt + Sl + Se + St + VG = SB
SB = ((B + oo+s+p) x Hh) + ((O + FL + G + W) x Mh) +(h + bq + bl + w) + ((Sl + L + Mt + Se) x Hl) + (C + P + E + A + R + T)

Kate's Turkey Patties (croquettes)

I wanted Turkey Croquettes from the Thanksgiving leftovers, and asked Kate if she would make them, since they are sort of like Swedish meatballs (not really at all) and she makes the BEST Swedish meatballs, using an old family recipe from her Swedish grandmother.  So I sent her a recipe I found online "The Best Turkey Croquettes which are sort of like Swedish Meatballs, but aren't really like Swedish Meatballs at all, especially if you decide to flatten them and make them more like Crabby Patties."  She discarded the recipe and found her own, which, to her credit, she then modified... And it was fantastic.  The kids loved it and she made more to freeze.  Oh yeah... 


2 C. cooked turkey

1 C milk

1 C. soft bread crumbs (made from 5 pc fresh bread: freeze for 15 min & crumble)

1/4 C. butter

1/4 C. flour

1/2 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. pepper

1/2 small onion minced 

2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce

Dredge & Batter:

1/2 C. flour

3/4c dry bread crumbs (use half panko/ half plain bread crumbs in a can)

1 egg, slightly beaten

Vegetable oil - 1" deep in skillet/ frying pan

Melt butter in large saucepan. 

Stir in flour, salt, pepper, and onion. 

Slowly add milk and Worcestershire sauce. 

Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until thick and bubbly (this take a little while, but it will happen). Remove from heat. 

In a large bowl blend sauce, soft bread crumbs and turkey. 

Cool mixture in freezer for about 15-20 min.  

Shape into 8-10 patties - (patties are easier to put on a roll or a bun.) 

Roll each lightly in flour; dip in egg and roll in bread crumb mixture. 

Fry in 1 inch of oil until golden brown (takes about 3-4 min a side). 

Put on paper towel to cool & drain oil.