What's for Dinner???

My sister Susan says I need to change it to "Recipe of the Month" so I'm not misleading anyone....oh well...as they say: "The best laid schemes o' Mice an' Men..."
Anyway, the plan for tonight is some good ole comfort food. It's kind of dreary here, the city is putting in new pipes on my street (which is now all torn up), not sure if it will actually rain or not, and I had a very TOUGH day at school. Here's what's on the menu:

Meatloaf Delish (my own concoction)
Homemade Mac and Cheese (with a nod to Paula Deen)
Lebanese Salad (you Baton Rouge fans will especially appreciate this one!)

Here's the recipes:

Meatloaf Delish

2 pounds ground sirloin (96/4% fat)
2 eggs, beaten
1 cup grated parmesan cheese
1 cup ketchup
1/2 cup sliced fresh mushrooms
salt/pepper/garlic powder to taste

Mix all ingredients and pack into a loaf pan. Place loaf pan on a baking sheet to keep your oven clean from spills and splatter. Bake at 400 degrees for 1 hour. Let stand for 15 minutes before carving.

Homemade Mac and Cheese

2 cups uncooked elbow macaroni
4 tablespoons (1/2 stuck) butter, cut into pieces
2 1/2 cups (about 10 ounces) grated sharp Cheddar cheese
3 eggs, beaten
1/2 cup sour cream
1 (10 3/4-ounce) can condensed Cheddar cheese soup
1 cup whole milk
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Boil the macaroni in a 2 quart saucepan in plenty of water until tender with a pinch of salt, about 7 minutes. Drain. In a medium saucepan, mix butter and cheese. Stir until the cheese melts. Combine cheese/butter mixture with the eggs, sour cream, soup, salt, milk and pepper and stir well. Then add drained macaroni and stir again. Pour into an 8 x 8 pan. Bake at 400 degrees for 45 minutes. Top with additional grated sharp cheddar cheese. Bake an additional 15 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly. I have to say this rivals Piccadilly Cafeteria at it's best!

Lebanese Salad

For the dressing:
about....
4 tablespoons minced garlic
1 cup lemon juice
4 fresh mint leaves, no stems
1/4 cup olive oil
1/8 teaspoon red pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 cup sour cream
a splash of red wine vinegar

Place all ingredients in a food processor and puree until smooth. Serve over torn romaine hearts with chopped ripe tomatoes, kalamata olives and crumbled feta cheese. Amazingly good!!!

Well, dinner's over and it turned out just great. I love to be in my kitchen, working on good food. It's such a satisfying feeling. If you're feeling a little down, weary and worn out by the world, and you need a little comfort, this meal is guaranteed to make you feel better. Let me know how it turns out for you!

Bon appetit!