Fifty-Two Meat Loaves

This is one of those cookbooks I reach for when I've got a couple of pounds of ground beef on hand and want to make something that tastes like I put more time into it than I actually did. If you think you don't like meatloaf, these recipes may change your mind, and if you like the standard ground-beef-eggs-onions meatloaf, these recipes will be a revelation. Excellent side dish recipes and menu suggestions are also included. It's too bad this book is currently out-of-print; the good news is that it can be purchased used at a very reasonable price.

If you think that all meat loaves are the same--just hamburger and assorted bread crumbs--prepare to be surprised! The recipes in this collection provide tremendous variety for an old stand-by. The section entitled "Alternative Loaf Styles" offers a good many recipes for those of us who are trying to eat just a bit lighter and healthier these days. (One of my favorites is Shrimp & Chicken Loaf with Pink Tomato Cream--excellent!) Each of the recipes is paired with an appropriate side dish, along with other ideas to round out a meal. In addition, there are great leftover suggestions following each entry. The book is nicely illustrated with some nostalgic artwork and photos that will evoke your own memories of good eating back in the 1950s. This book is McLaughlin at his very best, with his warm writing style and personal anecdotes coming through on every page. It's one of the most splattered & regularly used books in my kitchen.