I try the meatloaf!

[Big Galloot]

Having eaten the Country Captain Chicken and emerged unscathed, I am quite full of myself and unafraid to look even the most abhorred MRE creation straight in the eye and poke a fork into it. So what next? Well it happens that I have some friends who recently tried the “Meatloaf with Brown Onion Gravy,” and were unimpressed. In their words, “My dog will eat its own s**t, but it won’t eat the meatloaf!” So, the meatloaf it is.

I have acquired a Sopakco meatloaf packed in January of 2007 for this review. I choose a Chianti for the wine because I couldn’t find a corkscrew and it had already been uncorked.

Before opening the entrée, I quickly scanned the ingredients. For those of you who are not meatloaf aficionados, a good meatloaf relies on three main components; the ground meat, the binder, and finally the flavoring. The Sopakco meatloaf is off to an unpromising start because it includes only ground beef, this is the kiss of death to any meatloaf. A good meatloaf will always include a blend of meats; I personally recommend ½ beef and ¼ each of pork and lamb.

Next is the choice of binder, it is the binder that determines the texture of the meatloaf and I cannot say I approve of the “cracker meal” approach to binding meatloaf preferring egg. Granted, my meatloaf has only been subjected to helicopter drops when being deployed as a weapon. Nonetheless, the texture of the meatloaf was absolutely consistent with a cracker meal binding and pretty much like many homemade meatloafs.

While the meatloaf was heating I brought in my cat and offered him a sampling gleaned from his kitty litter which he refused to eat. He was then offered a small sample of the meatloaf, which he did eat. To be fair, he REALLY liked the gravy, but was unenthusiastic about the meatloaf and didn't like the wine. I am going to stick my neck out and assume that this says more about the intelligence of dogs than it does about the meatloaf.

The meatloaf tasted more like cracker meal than hamburger, but was inoffensive. Most of the flavor was in the gravy. If you have ever had a Swanson meatloaf TV dinner, you know this gravy. There is a definite “comfort food” thing here, but way too much salt for my tastes.

In the final analysis, this was pretty darn tasty and aimed more at familiarity than excellence. I would expect that the gravy would work well with the mashed potatoes included in the menu.

[dirtbag]

So, what you're saying is, that it failed the 'Lab' report but passed the 'Cat' scan ???

[kman]

Great review, Big Galloot! I have to say, Meatloaf is one of my more favorite entrees. I picked up a case of it from TheEpicenter.com a couple of years ago and I'm still working my way through it. It's not great meatloaf, sure, but it's tasty food and isn't bad hot or cold. And in a pinch, when you don't have a spoon, it's really easy to mush it up in the package, rip off a corner of the pouch, and just squeeze it out to eat it!

[bishopmarine]

i love your reviews galoot. keep them coming. i have not tried the meatloaf yet. but i do have a bunch of chicken entrees on the way that i will be reviewing soon.

[Big Galloot]

So, what you're saying is, that it failed the 'Lab' report but passed the 'Cat' scan ???

OUCH! No, I didn't say that, and no amount of coercion and/or bribery could make me.

[C-rats]

The Meatloaf is one of my favorites as well. I find that a pouch of Mashed Potatoes and a pouch of the Cornbread Stuffing go real well with this entree ---- YUM!!

[Richard w.]

The meatloaf is one of several good meals that are only a ketchup packet away from greatness.

Natick needs to get a clue. Every real American loves ketchup on their meatloaf.

[C-rats]

I'll throw another one in that mix Richard: A1 Steak Sauce. I find it goes well with Meat Loaf and Mashed Potatoes (burp!).

[Richard w.]

I see that the 2007 menus include "BBQ Seasoning" (not sauce) in the meatloaf meal.

Does anyone know what that is? A dry spice mix?

[kman]

I haven't seen the BBQ Seasoning yet but I'll keep an eye out for it.