Meatloaf and a crock pot?

So Sarah totally knows my cryptonite.  Meatloaf and crock pots.  (Thankfully, she didn't let you know about root beer *shivers* or hard boiled eggs).  I LOVE to cook.  I LOVE when my kitchen is spotless and I get to whip up a big ole mess!  I think I'm a pretty decent cook, and I love to try new recipes and flavors.

That being said, I cannot boil eggs.  Nope.  The shell sticks.  But I already did that post here.  Not going there again.  THIS post will be for my other failure...meatloaf.  Seriously.  I'd like to meet the person who named it, first of all.  Meatloaf?  A loaf of meat?  YUCK!  Now, don't get me wrong, I love the tasty treat, when someone else makes it.  It just sounds disgusting.  And yes, Sarah's right.  Tony LOVES this meal.  He asks for meatloaf, corn, mashed potatoes, and rolls.  So very basic.  So very easy for me to ruin.

Therefore, Sarah sent out a plea to you, our readers, to give me your meatloaf recipes.  Please go back and read the comments section of my last post.  There are some tasty looking recipes listed!  Then, hopefully, there will be more in the comments for THIS post.  Please post your recipe.  Please help Tony have a delicious meal.  Otherwise, my mom or dad will be doomed to make his meatloaves (is that a word?) for the rest of eternity.

For the record, I made a YUMMY dinner tonight.  Steak with peach and balsamic vinegar glaze, atop a fresh salad with strawberries, walnuts, and blueberries.  I could have licked the plate!  AND I did it all WITHOUT a crock pot!  haha

Ok, ok, bring on the recipes!

P.S.  Tony said for any of the local readers, feel free to drop of a meatloaf for him to sample.  He'd be happy to play judge!

While I'm in the Middle of All These Deep Thoughts...

Ok, so another deep thought/post coming your way....

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE to cook. Seriously. I go through phases where I want to cook up a storm and try new things. Usually, this happens in the summer when I have more time. Seriously, though, I make a mean Thai peanut chicken. And my biscuits and gravy aren't too bad, usually. My mom is a crazy good cook. The kind that says, "Oh, just throw a handful in." A handful? WHOSE handful? Mine? Or Abby's? But her cooking is so good, she puts Paula Deen to shame! :) Sorry, Paula!

But there are two things that I cannot, will not, am not able to make. Ever. Period.

1. Meatloaf

2. Hard boiled eggs

Done laughing? Well, I'll give you a second. Ok, done yet? Why does this even matter? I'll tell you.

1. Meatloaf--Tony LOVES meatloaf. It is his favorite, all-time meal. He would choose meatloaf over a big slice of chocolate, gooey cake. But my meatloaf, well, it's one big surprise from one meal to the next. I follow the SAME recipe every time, but sometimes it's too moist. Sometimes it's too dry and it falls apart. Sometimes it is just YUCK! No, most of the time it's just YUCK! Truth be told, I have my dad make the meatloaf if we're going to have it. His meatloaf ROCKS!

1. Eggs. My enemy. No matter how I cook them...salt the water, drain and run cool water over them, blah blah blah...I cannot get the shells to come off! I cannot get them out of the shell as a whole egg. When I am intending to make deviled eggs, I usually make egg salad because they're all broken up! Now, I'm being vulnerable here. Be kind!


With Easter being this weekend, you can see my stress. My dilemma. Can you help? PLEASE? How do YOU hard boil your eggs? Leave your tips and tricks for me! I'm COUNTING ON YOU!