Monday Meatloaf & Christmas Decor

It is really hard to believe it will be Christmas in just 5 short days when it has been gorgeous outside here lately. I mean really gorgeous. 75 degrees gorgeous. Flip flop weather gorgeous and blues skies. Yep, this is winter in Arizona. While I do miss having snow on the ground in December and seeing my breath outside in the cool crisp air and the silence it brings with a crunch on the ground as the snow compacts beneath your shoes, wearing flip flops and capri's and being able to go swim in December is also a nice choice to have.

Decorating our condo has made it feel more like Christmas for us here. We got our tree up and decorated and some things around the house to look like the holidays. I've also made a few cookies and treats. It will just be Josh and I this year for Christmas eve. We both were lucky to get Christmas eve off to spend together, but I will be back at work on Christmas Day.

Some pictures of our decorating....ah-hem...my decorating. And some of my baking today. I'll share more when I'm done baking so I can share all the goodness I've been whipping up this week.

Now onto the Meatloaf I made tonight. Yum! I've never made a meatloaf before, thought I better give it a go and try it out. It really is a must-have in our house. Both Josh and I grew up having some great homemade dishes by our mom's and we can both remember having some good meatloaf. Nothing makes it feel like home like having some good meatloaf. I didn't have a recipe for this, so I looked a few up and this one was so easy and had great flavor!

Monday Meatloaf

1 1/2 lbs ground beef (I used a 2 lb chunk I had)

1 cup cracker crumb ( I used italian bread crumbs)
1 1/4 teaspoons salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 large egg, beaten
1 medium onion, chopped (As most always, I use half the onion)
1/2 cup tomato sauce
TOPPING
3/4 cup ketchup
2 tablespoons firmly packed brown sugar
1 cup water
2 tablespoons mustard
2 tablespoons vinegar
 
In a large bowl combine all ingredients (not the topping) and form into a loaf shape. I used a cookie sheet and put it on that. I made it more flat than tall that way it would bake all the way through. It cooked and was falling apart, so great! Cook in 350 degrees for 1 hour 15 minutes. Before putting in the oven combines all the topping ingredients and drizzle over the top. I only used about half to top with, then towards the end of baking I used more to drizzle on top. It turned out great and we have left overs!