"meat loaf" news and stories

As readers of our TV Squad blog know, I'm a huge Amy Sedaris fan. She has a new book out that is not only "good," it's fantastic. A cookbook/entertaining book that isn't just all humor. It's a book you can actually use. It has some great idea, recipes (a couple hundred, actually), great pics. A lot of thought went into it. Oh, and it's funny as hell too.

Over at Gourmet magazine, they asked her to give some tips for the perfect Halloween celebration. It includes a discount movie theater dinner party, a meal made to be eaten in the dark (meatloaf, mashed potatoes, and corn - you don't have to see it to eat it), her famous cupcakes, and drinks (Bloody Marys and Zombies, of course). She even likes to have her Halloween night guests carve a pumpkin.

Click here to order Amy's book, and check out her tour schedule here.

• It's springtime, so that must mean it's time to drink something pink.
• Michael and Jane Stern are the king and queen of road food.
• Fiddleheads: they look like fiddles, but taste like asparagus!
• A review of Roy Finamore's new cookbook, Tasty.
• This week's recipes: Seared Scallops with Watercress and Shiitakes, Rhubarb Compote, and Real Good Meat Loaf.

Meatloaf is the ultimate comfort food. It is hearty, flavorful and can be subject to nearly infinite variations. Some meatloaves are all beef, while some are made with turkey or even faux meat, which preserves the spirit of the dish, if not the meat. Meatloaves have been around as long as ground meat and are larger versions of meatballs.  Due to their size, they can easily be served as a main course and the leftovers sliced for sandwiches. Flavorings and some "filler," in the form of vegetables, egg, breadcrumbs or rice, are added to help the loaf maintain its shape. The practice of "stretching the meat" with filler was popular and widely practiced during the lean war years of the early 20th century.

After a decline in popularity, due in part to many years of inclusion in frost-bitten, over-processed, microwaveable meals, meatloaf is working its way back onto the plates and into the hearts of diners everywhere. It is on upscale restaurant menus, where it is recognized as classic American fare, as well as being a staple at diners and neighborhood restaurants across the country.

One of the most popular comfort foods is meatloaf. But how do you put one together? Meat in a loaf pan? The Meatloaf Pages are here to help with possibly the largest, tested meatloaf recipe collection on the internet. The have recipes from Emeril's Most Kicked Up Meatloaf Ever to the posh Veal, Chicken and Wild Mushroom Loaf, which is fit for the finest restaurant table but simple enough to serve on a weeknight at home. Every recipe includes the observations and comments of their professional, experienced meatloaf chefs, as well as advice for improving the recipes.

And if you're looking for meatloaf inspiration, take a look at the Flickr meatloaf gallery, with photos of meatloaf, meatloaf sandwiches and the most popular meatloaf side dish: mashed potatoes. The photo above is one of my favorites, and a Flickr member's first attempt at homemade meatloaf.

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