I have a few recipes I consider "staples" and this is one of them. When I have nothing else to make for dinner, this is one of my go-to's! It is really easy to keep the ingredients on hand, and it's the most delicious meatloaf ever. I'm also going to tell you the secret to delicious, moist baked potatoes. Read on my friends!!**
Meatloaf
(recipe adapted from Lipton)
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2 lbs ground beef
1 envelope Lipton Onion Soup (powder)
1 slice bread (I usually use the end which helps it not go to waste!)
2 eggs
3/4 c. water
1/3 c. ketchup
(plus more ketchup and brown sugar for topping)
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Preheat oven to 350. Mix all ingredients (except topping) in a bowl until well combined. Pat mixture into loaf pan. Combine about 2-3 T. ketchup and 2 T. brown sugar and spread over top of meatloaf. Bake uncovered 1 hour on 350.
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Perfect Baked Potatoes
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Now in my picture, Aaron used the potato ricer (really cool kitchen gadget, if you don't have one, they have them at Bed, Bath and Beyond for under $10) and then smothered his potato with cheese and ranch. However, here is the secret to perfect potatoes!
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If I'm in a hurry, I will start by scrubbing, poking, then microwaving them. If they are large (Costco potatoes) I usually do 5 minutes, flip them, and do another 5 minutes. If they are smaller, I usually do about 3 minutes on each side, then bake. Or you can just skip microwaving them if you have more time, it just helps get them started and bake a little faster. Anyway, here is the secret. As you're wrapping them in tinfoil before you bake them, add a tablespoon or so of water into the foil with the potato. You don't need to measure, just dump some in there! Then bake as usual! They come out moist and delicious every time!! :)
