Keeley in the Kitchen

Supper is the most important meal of the day at our house.  Dad is already at work by the time the rest of us have breakfast, the kids are in school over lunch, so the only opportunity we have to all sit down together is supper - even if that's not until 7 or 8 at night when Dad gets back home.  Yes, it is eaten at an actual table, in a kitchen, with no TV on...  Monday at supper Keeley suggested we should have meatloaf - I told her "Excellent idea!  You can make that later this week."  95% of the time I use my Grandma Hellickson's meatloaf recipe (which is the most amazing meatloaf I've ever eaten) and the best way to mix it up is with your bare hands.  Keeley is the only one of our three kids brave enough to take on this 'gross' cooking challenge!

While I was getting the ingredients ready for Keeley to mix I got to thinking about all the meat in our freezer.  We are EXTREMELY fortunate to have an entire extra freezer just to store our beef and pork.  As I am at the grocery store almost every day (which Scott totally appreciates!), I continue to be thankful for our abundance of meat - as it is more costly to "buy as you need".  We have the good fortune to live in a community that raises A LOT of hogs and cattle.  I have the added benefit of knowing the local farmers raising the livestock my family consumes.  Also the opportunity to purchase a whole, half, or quarter cow or pig, and have it processed at a local locker.  We get to choose the cuts we'd like (chops, steaks, bacon, roasts, etc.), but very often we choose ground for a large portion as it is more versatile. ;)

Enough about the meat!  On to the recipe!  Enjoy!

The ingredients

Working on her egg cracking skills!

Ready to mix

Eww!!!! ;)

Almost ready for the oven...

Thanks for a healthy, delicious supper, Keel!
Grandma would be proud!

Grandma's Meatloaf

1 pound ground beef
1 cup cracker crumbs (we like saltines but often change it up with Wheat Thins, Ritz, Club, etc.)
1 cup milk/water
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
2 eggs
2 tablespoons ketchup
2 tablespoons water

Mix ground beef, crackers, milk, lemon juice, onion, salt, pepper, and eggs together and pat into a greased 8 x 8 inch baking dish.  Mix ketchup and water together and spread over top.  Bake 1 hour at 350 degrees.

* Note:  We doubled the recipe for a 9 x 13 pan.

Hello from Southern Minnesota!!!

Hi!  I'm Sam Runge - a southern Minnesota wife and stay at home mom of 3 great kids - Jacob 10, Keeley 8, and Katelyn 4 1/2.  My husband, Scott, and I keep busy with the many hats we wear through work, our community, and kids, but we wouldn't change our small town life for anything (ok, it's January - being honest, maybe a few less 40 below windchill days and blizzards - but other than that we are pretty stinking happy!)  Scott's family owns a trucking company which he works for wearing hats of co-dispatcher, mechanic, and our local coop's transportation manager.  He also helps out when he can on the family farm north of town.  Even though I am at home, I work reviewing driver paperwork, recently became our county Farm Bureau Office Assistant, am President of the ECFE (Early Childhood Family Education) Advisory Board, and President of our elementary public school parent's group.  We also serve as Directors for our County Farm Bureau and are the Young Farmer's and Ranchers Chairmen.  We are passionate about our love, life, and family.  It is not always easy, but with faith we make it through - we know how important it is to raise our children respecting and loving the small town rural life!