"I'd ask my secretary, but she's dead." - Don Draper

So excited about the return of Mad Men tonight.  Will Don remain happy with Megan?  And what about how smiley he was in last season's finale?  That was disconcerting.  Pregnant Joan?  Sally...oh I hope the writers continue to make her a little crazy.  It's fun.

Tonight I made one of our standby family dinners in honor of the Mad Men return.  It's old school (though updated with turkey instead of beef/pork), it's saucy, and it's always eaten quickly and without complaint.  Mad Men Win!

Turkey Meatloaf (with sauce!)

1 lb. ground turkey

1 smallish onion, chopped fine

2 cloves garlic, chopped

1 cup breadcrumbs

1/4 cup ketchup

2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce

2 eggs, lightly beaten

1/4 cup milk

1 teaspoon salt

Ground pepper to taste

1 teaspoon dried parsley

1 teaspoon dried thyme

1 teaspoon dried sage

Sauce

1/2 cup ketchup

2 tablespoons brown sugar

2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Combine all ingredients with your hands (this is a little eeeew but hang in there, the end result is worth it).

Everyone in the pool.

Post mix.  Not attractive but just deal...

Sauce.  100% sure this is why our kids scarf this up.

Spray a loaf pan with cooking spray and spoon the whole shebang in there.  Spoon a little sauce over the loaf.  Bake at 350 degrees for 50 minutes.  Serve the rest of the sauce at the table.  

I made mashed potatoes.  Boiled potatoes and smashed with Greek yogurt and chicken stock.  And chives from our garden which is especially fun in March. 

If it were a weeknight, homemade mashed potatoes most likely wouldn't have been on the menu.  And that's OK.  Simply Potatoes?  Those pre-made jobbers in the refrigerated aisle?  Simply fabulous substitute.  Throw those bad boys in a baking dish with a little butter, salt and pepper and nobody would ever know the difference.  

Plated with roasted veg.

H. was done with his first piece of meatloaf before I sat down.  Like I've said, we're working on the manners.  But it was clean plate club all around.  The four of us almost ate one entire loaf tonight (and I had one piece).  I shudder to think of what I will be making when they're teenagers.  

As an aside, the boys call meatloaf "meatlove."  It cracks me up and I will never correct them.  

This is also a great recipe to double and wrap one in foil and freeze for later.  Or for a friend who just had a baby?  Bring them this meatlove plus Simply Potatoes plus a bag of Trader Joe's Haricots Verts (those skinny green beans).  And maybe add a bottle of Vodka, because Christ, she just had a baby.  That woman deserves a drink.