Farm to Table: A Picture Perfect Journey
By Emilee Wessel | December 31, 1969
From seed to supper, this visual ode to smallholder farmers showcases the community ties, skills and market savvy that turn harvests into nourishment and financial growth.
Comfort food, a delicious slice of nostalgia that soothes your soul — for me, that’s my mom’s meatloaf. Of all the dishes my mom made for our family growing up, this meatloaf was hands down our favorite meal. The loaf pan of juicy, sweet and savory goodness almost never lasted long enough to become leftovers. And it’s not hard to understand why — Mom’s take on this classic recipe is the dinner version of a warm hug.
Featuring simply seasoned beef and a tangy, sweet tomato sauce, Mom’s meatloaf is the perfect recipe to add a touch of home-cooked goodness to your next dinner party or small family gathering.
Mom’s Meatloaf Recipe
Serves 6
Loaf Ingredients
- 2⁄3 cup breadcrumbs
- 1 cup milk
- 1½ pounds ground beef
- 2 eggs, lightly beaten
- ¼ cup onion, minced finely
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon sage, dried
- Dash of pepper
Sauce Ingredients
- ¼ cup ketchup
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon mustard
- 3 tablespoons brown sugar
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Combine the loaf ingredients in a large bowl and mix them together well, making sure to incorporate the egg and the breadcrumbs thoroughly.
- Press the mixture firmly into a greased loaf pan, and smooth out the top with the back of a spoon.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the sauce ingredients and spread evenly over the loaf.
- Bake at 350°F for 50 minutes, or until the center reaches 160°F on a food thermometer. Allow to cool for at least 10 minutes prior to serving.
- Plate up the piping-hot goodness alongside potatoes and green peas or asparagus for a perfect and easy family supper with soul.
Good Food Starts with Farmers
Whether you’re making Mom’s meatloaf or another family favorite, learning where your ingredients come from is a great way to connect with the farmers behind your food. That connection between a meal and the people who produce it is a key part of Heifer International’s work.
We work alongside small-scale farmers around the world, expanding access to training, markets and financing so they can earn a reliable income from the food they produce. This helps farming families put nutritious food on their own tables — and ours!