Photo by Madame Donna C. : italian,pork...

Comments: 30

Debbie W. Jan 24, 2013, 9:06pm UTC

Oh, sounds absolutely delicious!

Madame Donna C. Jan 25, 2013, 1:02am UTC

Debbie, thanks. It was superb. I think I've finally found the best recipe for me.

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Sonia M. Jan 24, 2013, 9:14pm UTC

The ultimate comfort elevated to fine dining status...;-)

Madame Donna C. Jan 25, 2013, 1:04am UTC

Thanks, Sonia. I've been working on a meatloaf recipe for about 2 decades and have never been happy with the result until lately. I'm getting very close with this recipe. My trip to Italy helped a great deal. I learned a lot about food there.

Sonia M. Jan 25, 2013, 1:12am UTC

Looking forward to you sharing when you're satisfied with it!

I love meatloaves too, but can't remember making a really good one in ages...

Madame Donna C. Jan 25, 2013, 1:21am UTC

I will definitely share it when I feel it's ready. Maybe I'll send it to you to test drive it first but it's very close to ready, I hope. I yearn for a dependable, not dry but moist, meatloaf that delivers flavor bursts that are memorable. I hope I'm not striving for too much but I think I can do it. This one had really prominent flavors and bursts from the 4 oz. of chopped pancetta that I added. Everyone remarked that in the past they couldn't even detect t he pancetta but this time it came through strongly: first flavor hurdle jumped!

Sonia M. Jan 25, 2013, 11:12am UTC

I would be glad to test ut anytime you want...;-)

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David W. Jan 24, 2013, 10:34pm UTC

hold the mushroom and I'm all in.

Madame Donna C. Jan 25, 2013, 1:06am UTC

David, no problem. I can make a simple saucepan gravy for you sans mushrooms and you'll be in dinner heaven.

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Joy Bee Jan 25, 2013, 1:11am UTC

I have an extra bedroom if you want to come live with me and be my chef. xxoo.

Madame Donna C. Jan 25, 2013, 1:34am UTC

Joy, thanks very much for the offer. I do travel to cook but I don't "live in". I have other commitments that require my presence. Hahaha.

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Jan S. Jan 25, 2013, 2:05am UTC

Looks yummy. I like playing with meat loaf recipes for different flavors. Thanks for posting to Cook it up Big!

Madame Donna C. Jan 25, 2013, 2:15am UTC

Thank you, Jan. I'm hoping I'll have the recipe tested and ready to post sometime soon. I like playing with the flavors too but more importantly is to perfect a recipe where the meatloaf remains moist and flavorful instead of dry and crumbly.

Jan S. Jan 25, 2013, 4:56pm UTC

That can be tricky, Donna. I like the meatloaf to be moist and flavorful, but still hold together well enough to be sliced for sandwiches. I love meat loaf sandwiches with cheese and thousand island dressing.

One of my favorite tricks is to use stuffing mix instead of plain bread crumbs or cracker crumbs. It can be made with stuffing bread and poultry seasoning or, for a shortcut, a ready to mix packaged stuffing. The poultry seasoning provides a really good flavor.

Madame Donna C. Jan 25, 2013, 7:23pm UTC

I've been playing around using panko, crackers, white bread and french bread. So far the french bread produced the moistest meatloaf. Like you, I love to be able to slice it for sandwiches.

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Karen E. Jan 25, 2013, 2:16am UTC

Oh this looks and sounds amazing!

Madame Donna C. Jan 25, 2013, 7:23pm UTC

Thanks, Karen.

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Magi the magical poet is flowing with the wind Jan 25, 2013, 7:24am UTC

I love meat loaf! And yours looks delicious.

Madame Donna C. Jan 25, 2013, 7:24pm UTC

I love meatloaf too, Magi. This one has great flavor.

Magi the magical poet is flowing with the wind Jan 26, 2013, 7:08am UTC

elizabeth evans Jan 29, 2013, 5:40pm UTC

We've been experimenting with meatloaf here too. My Mom made the most delicious meatloaf...very moist and the flavors just exploded in your mouth. But I never much watched her in the kitchen, nor did my sisters for that matter, and all three of us reminisce about the various meals she cooked.

Madame Donna C. Jan 29, 2013, 8:50pm UTC

bob, my kids always worried that they would not be able to make my recipes the way I do after I die so I made sure to teach them and write out explicit instructions. Your experience is so common and I wanted to avoid that in our family. I promised them I would freeze something for them to serve at my funeral too. Haha.

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