PASSING THE WINTER HYBERNATING? (Try some comfort food)

BISHOP SHEEN'S MEAT LOAF

~ featured in Diary of a Ho-hum Housewife

(two VERY OLD family recipes)

2 pounds ground beef

1 cup chopped green pepper

1 cup applesauce

1 cup chopped onions

6 slices crumbled bread

1 clove chopped garlic

parsley

1 egg

flour

salt and pepper

catsup (or Piquant Sauce recipe below)

Combine meat, onions, bread, pepper, garlic, applesauce, parsley, salt and pepper. Add egg and mix well. Form into loaf and flour well. Oil pan and place beef in. Top with catsup or Piquant Sauce. Bake at 350 degrees for 2 hours. Uncover last 15 minutes.

PIQUANT SAUCE

3 Tbsp. brown sugar

1/4 cup catsup

1/4 tsp. nutmeg

1 tsp. dry mustard

Combine all and spread over meatloaf. (Double recipe if you like it saucy)

ORIGINAL EVERYDAY MEATLOAF

2/3 cup dry breadcrumbs

1 cup milk

1 1/2 pounds ground beef

2 beaten eggs

1/4 grated onion

1 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. sage

pepper

(optional: for 2 pounds of meat, use 3-4 slices fresh bread crumbs, 1 heaping tsp. sage, 2 Tbsp. parsley, 2 Tbsp. horseradish, coarse salt and cracked pepper and same amount of milk and eggs.)

Soak crumbs in milk and add remaining ingredients. Plop in pan. Top with Piquant Sauce. Bake at 350 degrees for one hour. Serve with fat baked potatoes and steamed buttered green beans.