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AN
UNEXPECTED TRIP TO THE OLD HOMETOWN
SCHENECTADY
AND BEYOND! |
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Much like the
Holy Hand Grenade, someone had to transport the uncooked meatloaf from one car to the
other.
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The Meatloaf Challenge
Mom's Traditional Recipe
vs.
Aunt Nicky's Dazzling Three Meat
Meat Loaf
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Aunt Alice was left to wonder, "What wrath hath this meatloaf
brought?"
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It's amazing the power of meatloaf can have over some people.
As simple and abhorred a dish it is by most people, others take a quiet,
unstated delight in preparing and/or eating it. Meatloaf became a
passing topic while at another meal, and Aunt Nicky was telling me how
she made a mean meatloaf and asked how I thought it would compare to my
mom's. I said there was only one way to find out, and within
minutes, the challenge was laid down, and the date was set for the
meatloaf cook-off.
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The day of the challenge began
inauspiciously, with grey clouds covering the sky and one of my
mom's elaborate plans involved in the whole meal. I couldn't
say anything, as she had traveled from California and offered to
make her meatloaf, which she did, at Aunt Alice's in Amsterdam.
While visiting Grandpa, I had to shuffle out and move the uncooked
meatloaf from Aunt Alice's trunk to Aunt Nicky's car, in the
misty cold.
Upon opening the trunk, I found a large cooler, filled with ice,
jello in champagne glasses, and the meatloaf. After moving
everything and repacking the jello so no glasses would break, I
walked the meatloaf across the parking lot. After this surreal
transfer, I headed back inside and waited until dinnertime. |
| As dinner approached, the smells of
both meatloafs cooking nearly did my senses in. With sides of
baked potatoes and broccoli with bread crumbs, I knew I'd be paying
for this meal in a future life for a long time.
I took equal shares of both meatloafs, and surrounded them with
broccoli and potatoes, with some bread for good measure. A
full meal, complete with two types of meatloaf. I bit into
Aunt Nicky's first, not 100% sure which one was which, but could
taste the difference right off. It was pretty amazing though.
She uses three kinds of meat, while I was under the impression my
mom's was a mix of ground beef and corn flakes, there is no cereal
in either recipe. When I tasted mom's, it was just as I always
remember it - incredible.
The biggest difference between the two was the three meat vs. one
meat recipe, which leaned to favor my Aunt, but the crust and
simplicity of my mom's recipe leaned her way. My Uncle,
running off an American Idol high in which he would correctly
identify which of the finalists was 'pitchy' during their
performances, claimed his wife as the far out winner. I was
just happy to have a meal in front of me - two great meatloafs,
Uncle Larry's wine, and margarita jello whipped up by Aunt Alice and
served in champagne glasses for good affect.
How can you beat that? |
"Ah man, oh jeez, I'm tellin' ya Nick - a-HA!!
This meatloaf is -ah, BAM- Ah Jute, Jute, you gotta stop putting
rice krispies in that meatloaf, Jute, you're OC now baby, OC
Live it up!!"
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