Fall Harvest Apple Meatloaf

by Michele Cheplic | More from this Blogger

06 Oct 2008 09:18 AM

Did you go apple picking this weekend? We went about a week ago and I'm still only about halfway through the bushel (about 42 pounds) we collected. Needless to say, it's all apples all the time around here.

Preparing apple dishes morning, noon and night has forced me to dig deep into my recipe archives. Last night I came across two meatloaf recipes that call for apples, though I've only experimented with one and that was way back in college when I was living with a girl who was majoring in Food Science. In any event, if you are looking for a way to incorporate fall's harvest into an already popular dish the following recipes should come in quite handy.

The first recipe for Kicked Up Apple Meatloaf is a bit spicier than traditional meatloaf (mainly due to the crushed red pepper flakes), but you could adjust the amount to accommodate your family's taste. The second recipe is for an Applesauce Meatloaf. If you picked an abundance of apples I would suggest making your own applesauce using the fruits of your labor. However, if you are in a hurry or you simply don't have the ingredients to make homemade applesauce then store bought applesauce will work just fine. Either way you will end up with a moist and delicious meatloaf that features fantastic flavors of the fall season.

KICKED UP APPLE MEATLOAF

Ingredients:

2 pounds ground beef

1 cup rolled oats

1 large onion, diced

1 apple, chopped

1 egg

2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce

3-4 leaves fresh basil, or 1/2 teaspoon dried

1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

1-2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease a 9-inch by 5-inch loaf pan.

Mix all the ingredients in a large bowl. Place mixture into pan and bake for 1 hour.

Garnish meatloaf pieces with sliced apples before serving.

EASY APPLESAUCE MEATLOAF

Ingredients:

2 pounds ground beef

1 cup breadcrumbs

1 cup applesauce

1/2 teaspoon sage

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup ketchup

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

1/4 teaspoon garlic salt

1/4 teaspoon seasoning salt

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Grease a 9-inch by 5-inch loaf pan.

Mix all ingredients together thoroughly. Place mixture in pan and bake for 90 minutes.

Remove from oven and drain excess fat before serving.

Michele Cheplic writes about red-hot celebrities in POP CULTURE, fiery topics in PARENTS, sizzling recipes in FOOD, calorie burning exercises in FITNESS, and hot new kid-friendly crafts in FUN. Check out all of her articles here.

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Learn more about Michele Cheplic

Michele Cheplic was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii, but now lives in Wisconsin. Michele graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Journalism.

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