Erin's Best Meatloaf Ever

Ingredients
1 large onion finely chopped
1/4 cup Light Italian dressing ( we like Newman's Own)
2 pounds lean ground beef
3/4 cup ketchup, divided into 1/4 cup and 1/2 cup (we use organic so that there is no HFCS in it)
1 package Stove Top stuffing mix for chicken
1 cup water
2 egg whites

Process

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
   
2. In skillet over medium heat, saute onions in Italian dressing, stirring frequently, until golden brown.
   
3. Remove from heat and cool slightly.
   
4. In large bowl, combine meat, 1/4 cup ketchup, stuffing, water, egg whites, and onions and stir to mix well.
   
5. Place mixture in a 13 x 9 inch baking dish, pushing into loaf pan to level.
   
6. Spread remaining 1/2 cup ketchup on top of loaf.
   
7. Bake 55 minutes to an hour or until cooked through to an internal temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit.
   

Crockpot Meatballs

Through out my documenting the family recipes, I will of course be adding our nightly dinner recipes. I also haven't said it yet, but it goes without saying that any of the crock pot recipes are the modern recipes. I don't think Mom owned a crock pot and her idea of slow cooking would have been the ritual of chutney making every winter. Then again maybe it would have been HER meatballs that she made for every Christmas Eve Cheer. These meatballs are NOT those meatballs, so if that is what you are wanting you can stop now. In fact this recipe calls for frozen meatballs, but you COULD make your own. It just defeats the point of this recipe - quick and easy and perfect for kids. The meatballs come from a friend, one that encouraged me to get a crock pot just so I could make these. They are simple and perfect for a busy night with hockey! It is versatile and proportions are highly dependant on what you get in your grocery store. My 10 year old had a rough day at school, and these were his comfort food request. Beef meatballs - this is what's for dinner!

Ingredients and Materials
Crockpot
Frozen meatballs - tonight I used two 16 ounce bags Wolfe's Neck Farms Italian style All Natural beef meatballs.
1 10 ounce jar Polaner all fruit grape jelly - organic works too we just don't use High Fructose Corn Syrup in our food.
1 jar organic ketchup (again we don't use HFCS). Start with 1/2 use more along the way.
I 20 ounce can diced pineapple
tonight I added some diced green peppers, fresh from our garden (not a usual ingredient)


Combine all ingredients in crockpot. The sauce should be enough to cover the meatballs, but they are not soaking in sauce. As the meatballs thaw and cook, it will soften up. You can check and stir once an hour. Cook on low 4 to 6 hours, or on high 3. Can serve on own or with pasta but there is not a lot of sauce.