Meatloaf

This is Tanya Hsu’s recipe for Disappearing Meatloaf. It’s a standby from the OZC, and it’s on the menu for this week.
2 pounds ground beef
1/4 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 cup ketchup
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/2 medium onion, chopped (or 2 tablespoons dried onion flakes)
1 teaspoon beef bouillion
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1/2 cup bread crumbs
1/2 cup oatmeal
2 eggs
1 [...]

December Photo Project

Last year, I suggested that we here at Needs More Butter participate in the December Photo Project. Didn’t happen. Not even one picture. Well, I still think it’s a good idea, so I’m signing us* up again.
* “Us” as in not just me — please feel free to jump in.

Divinity

My mom makes several batches of divinity every Christmas. Since we are celebrating Christmas with my dad’s side of the family tomorrow, she is making her first batch tonight.
Ingredients

2 2/3 cups sugar
2/3 cup light corn syrup
1/2 cup water
2 egg whites
1 teaspoon vanilla
2/3 cups walnuts or pecans, broken (optional)

Directions

Stir the sugar, corn syrup, and water over [...]

Giving Thanks

We had a lovely Thanksgiving dinner with Jason’s family today, and I was reminded how thankful I am for his Christian heritage. We sang grace:
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise him, all creatures here below;
Praise him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

Blueberry Peach Crisp

Today I had a bottle of Blueberry Tangerine water — a flavor combination that really didn’t work. It reminded me, though, of this dessert, which does work even though it seems like maybe it shouldn’t. The recipe is from my cousin Sue Thomsen.
2/3 cup brown sugar, packed
1/2 cup flour
1 3/4 teaspoon cinnamon, divided
4 tablespoons butter [...]

Bernie’s Special Soup

Otherwise known as: Cream of Broccoli Soup. (I don’t know about the rest of you, but “special soup” sounds a bit iffy for me. Like the secret ingredient is something odd like black licorice, or toad liver. Okay, moving on.) Jeremy’s landlord in Oxford, England, was the titular Bernie and Jeremy really loved this soup. [...]

Thanksgiving wishlist

If I planned Thanksgiving dinner, we’d have
Grilled Turkey
Mashed Potatoes
Sweet Potatoes with Marshmallows on Top
Green Bean Casserole
Corn Pudding
Cranberry Sauce
Stove Top Stuffing
My Grandma’s Swedish Rye Bread
Brook’s Pumpkin Pecan Pie
What would your menu look like if you had no time or effort constraints?

Beef Barley Soup

Adapted from a recipe we found on allrecipes.com, this is on the menu this week.
2 pounds boneless lean beef, cubed
3 tablespoons olive oil
salt
pepper
garlic powder
2 (10.5-ounce) cans beef consomme
4 cups beef broth
3 cups water
4 stalks celery, chopped
6 carrots, peeled and chopped
1 yellow onion, chopped
1 cup barley (I use quick-cooking)
1 teaspoon dried thyme

1.
In a skillet over medium [...]

Service Included

Service Included: Four-Star Secrets of an Eavesdropping Waiter, by Phoebe Damrosch
This was a quick read and a mostly interesting glimpse into the world of fine dining — the author spent time as a backserver and a captain at Per Se, a well-known and well-respected fancy-pants restaurant in New York (for those who know about these [...]

Caramel Apple Salad

For Kliewer (Jason’s family) Thanksgiving, I have been tasked with bringing a salad. This one from Amanda Wittmann is currently my top contender.
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
1 tablespoon flour
1 egg
1/2 cup sugar
1 (8-ounce) can crushed pineapple, not drained
4 Granny Smith apples, cut up
1 cup peanuts
8 ounces whipped topping (like Cool Whip)
In a saucepan, mix vinegar, [...]