Stormy Weather, From the Kitchen, Leisure

Taken from the front door. The lightening was still fierce and I was afraid to step out.

1. A cold front makes a dramatic entrance. As it blew away to the east, the setting sun shone through  the clouds in the west and lit the landscape with a burst of golden light. The rainbow was a bonus.
2. I hadn't cooked all week due to the heat, which is probably why tonight's cooked meal was so delicious. This is my favorite meatloaf recipe. The baked onions served on the side elevated it to top status. I've posted the onion recipe before, but it's worthy of a revisit.
3. Reading on the porch, one of my favorite summer pastimes.

  

Little Cheddar Meatloaves

1 egg

¾ c. milk

1 c. shredded cheddar cheese

½ c. breadcrumbs

½ c. chopped onion

1 tea. salt

1 lb. lean ground beef

 2/3 c. ketchup

½ c. packed brown sugar

1 ½ tea. prepared mustard

In a bowl, beat the egg and milk. Stir in cheese, crumbs, onion and salt. . Add beef and mix well. Shape into eight loaves; place in a greased 13x9 baking dish.

Combine ketchup, brown sugar and mustard; spoon over loaves.

Bake, uncovered, at 350 F. for 45 minutes or until meat is no longer pink and a meat thermometer reads 160 F.

                                                  Baked Onions with Gruyere

5 medium sweet onions such as Vidalia

2 tea. extra virgin olive oil

Salt and pepper

1 c. low-sodium beef broth

2 tea. Soy sauce

1 c. finely shredded Gruyere

2 tea. finely chopped fresh sage

Preheat oven to 400°. Coat shallow baking dish (large enough to hold 10 onion halves) with cooking spray.

Trim about ¼ inch off top and bottom of onions so that halves sit level in pan. Cut onions in half crosswise and then peel them. Arrange onion halves, cut sides up, in baking dish.

Brush exposed tops with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bake about 35 minutes.

In glass measuring cup, mix beef broth and soy sauce. Remove dish from oven and pour sauce over onions. Return to oven and continue baking about 1 hour, basting occasionally. If liquid evaporates, add a little water.

Remove dish from oven and sprinkle cheese and sag evenly over tops of onions. Bake 5-7 minutes more until cheese is melted.

Serves 10