Where have all the church dresses gone?
I like suits because one can change blouses, scarves, etc., and wear them often. Like so many women, I also wear long pants (we used to call them slacks) to church, although I fought doing so for a long time. I shall continue that dressing style because the pants are comfortable, and, like the suits, are versatile and adaptable.
What I really like is a pretty dress. Where are the dresses to wear to church, a club meeting, an afternoon reception, etc.? Recently I went shopping, and, yes, I found dresses. Many were off the shoulder or had necklines to the waist. Others had ruffled hemlines and were sleeveless. Even more were decorated with shiny things or made from material suitable for evening wear.
On that day there was for me no dignified, tasteful, pretty dress to wear to church, and on that day I was glad I had Kathleen Burkett’s meatloaf waiting for our next meal.
You may recognize the name. Last January, Kathleen shared with us an excellent recipe for refrigerator rolls. She is a member of Lexington Baptist Church, where Mike Turner is senior pastor. Kathleen has seen a lot of pastors; she has been a member since 1942.
We are at the busy season of the year when cooks bring out their best recipes for dinner guests at their homes, church suppers, dinner gatherings of organizations, etc., and it will be comforting to have something as simple and as good back at your own dinner table as Kathleen’s meatloaf.
Almost every cookbook will have a meatloaf recipe, each featuring a variation. Some ask for veal or pork to be added, others tomatoes or peppers, and still others ask for onions, celery and bread crumbs. The spices and seasonings include allspice, curry, garlic, mustard, brown sugar and vinegar. All these are good, but Kathleen’s recipe is about as simple as meatloaf can be and as good.
You will notice there is no salt and pepper suggested. Both the soup and the Worcestershire sauce have plenty. If you don’t need them for your menu, you can omit the potatoes. A properly made meatloaf is good leftover for the next day, sliced and reheated, or sliced and used in hearty sandwiches.
So, on a Sunday morning soon when you are wearing something other than the pretty dress you would like, make and bake this recipe before you go to Sunday school and a good meal will be waiting for you when you gather for … Sunday Dinner.
Meatloaf Supreme
2 pounds ground beef
1 2.8-ounce can French fried onions
¼ cup Worcestershire sauce
1 10½-ounce can condensed tomato soup
1 egg, well beaten
8 medium potatoes, cut into quarters
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Mix ½ cup of the undiluted soup, ground beef, egg, Worcestershire sauce and half the onions. Mold firmly into a loaf shape and place into baking dish. Place potatoes around the meatloaf.
Bake for 1 hour, then stir the potatoes and spoon the remaining soup in the can over the meatloaf, spreading evenly. Bake another 25 minutes.
Sprinkle with the remaining onions and cook another 5 minutes or until onions are golden brown. Serves 8-10.