A (not entirely) Lazy Sunday

Well, it's been a beautiful sunny day, here on the west coast of Wales. The boys and I had breakfast together this morning before nipping out to get the Sunday newspaper. After I'd hung the washing out on the line in the garden, I actually had some time to sit down and read the paper; after a good night's sleep last night, James was in a remarkably good mood.

I treated myself to Asparagus Holstein for lunch today. It sounds fancy but is, in fact, just asparagus and a fried egg (or two). Christopher opted for a fried egg on toast, while James enjoyed a bowl of courgette and rice purée with cheese, and then chewed on a stem of steamed asparagus for afters.

After some confusion about whether Hubby was working late tonight or not, he did eventually rearrange his staff for tomorrow morning and therefore managed to get home for supper. I decided this morning to cook a meat loaf, knowing that it would keep for him if he couldn't get away after all. My meat loaf recipe is based on one in 'The Times Calendar Cookbook' by Katie Stewart. I have a fairly extensive library of cookery books, but of course some are favoured above others and this book, first published in 1976, is one of the chosen. Oven-Fried Chicken with Bacon, Lemon Freeze and Gooseberry Mousse are among my other favourites from this book.

My Meat Loaf

2 slices of white bread, crusts cut off
50ml milk
1 small onion, finely chopped
250g minced beef
250g minced pork
fresh sage and thyme, chopped finely
1 egg
grinding of black pepper
pinch of ground mace
40g butter
a little plain flour

Mix all the ingredients, except the butter and flour, together. Form into some semblance of a loaf, then roll it in plain flour to lightly coat the surface. Melt the butter in a frying pan and brown the loaf all over. Transfer it to a roasting tin, then stir 150ml water into the pan juices. Tip this liquid over the meat loaf. Cover the tin with foil and bake at 180°c for about 40 minutes. Remove the foil and bake the loaf uncovered for the last 5-10 minutes.

I do think that it's best eaten hot, though Hubby has a liking for a cold meat loaf sandwich occasionally! Today, I served the meat loaf with some steamed new potatoes and a salad of Cos lettuce, though creamy mashed potato and green vegetables are a perfect accompaniment if it's cold outside. A slice of meatloaf and a potato whizzed down to a nice nubbly purée for James. Clean plates all round!