Thats right, I said meatloaf! This is one of those things that most people don't think about cooking out side, but I can tell you that once you try it, you'll never want to cook it any other way. With a hint a smokey flavor this meatloaf comes out tender and moist. You definatly have to give it a try.
As far as what recipe you use, it's all up to you. Mom's recipe will work just fine. Here's a recipe that I've used thats a great place to start. Don't be afraid to modify it to suite your taste...
Basic Meatloaf
3 pounds ground beef
2 large eggs
1/2 cup ketchup
1/4 cup milk
3/4 cup bread crumbs
1 tablespoon onion powder
1 tablespoon garlic powder
salt and pepper to taste
In a large bowl, mix all ingredients gently to combine. Form into loaf on cooking pan.
Now when it comes to what you cook on, there's plenty of options available. I cook on a perforated pan that I picked up at my local Lowe's for about $12.00. It comes in handy for allot of diferant cooks. I can do veggies and seafood on it also.
You can also use a piece of tin foil or a tin foil pie plate. Just poke holes in the bottom to allow the smoke to permiate. Be sure to coat the cooking surface with non-stick cooking spray.
Now when it comes to cooking your loaf of beef, you want to create an oven like enviroment in your cooker. This will work great on a charcoal grill, or a gas grill as well as any smoker that can reach a temperature of 300-350 F. I would use only a small amount of smokewood for this as too much smoke will tend to overpower the meat. The ground meat will absorb the smoke quicker than a piece of whole muscle meat. As to what wood to smoke with, apple, cherry, oak, or pecan would be great choices, as they all have a mid flavor.
When the meatloaf reaches an internal temp. of about 100 F. you may, if you like, cover it with the sauce of your choice. Some people like bbq sauce others like just plain old ketchup. Put what you like on it or leave it plain. If you like thongs spicy, try giving it a slather with Sriacha sauce which you can get at any Asian food Mart or grocery store with a decent international food section.
Cook the meatloaf till it reaches an internal temp. of between 160 and 165F. Place it on a cutting board, place a loose cover of foil over it, and allow it to rest for 15 or 20 mins... Slice and enjoy!
Lat nights dinner... Meatloaf with garlic, sour cream, and cheddar smashed potatoes, and organic butternut squash, finished with butter and brown sugar...
Allot of what was talked about here (such as types of cookers, sauces and rubs, smoke woods, etc. etc.) will be covered in greater detail in upcoming articles. If you haven't already done so. sign up to follow this blog by clicking the 'follow' button at the top of the page!
Peace and happy smoking!
Big Tim
No Butts About It BBQ
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