Ketchup and Meatloaf

Ever since Tia was one and she tested allergic to tomatoes, I've been looking for a substitute for ketchup. I pretty much gave up. But then I re-googled it this week and found one to try.

It's the ketchup recipe from SisterCooks.

Tomato free Ketchup:

• 1 can Gerber plum with apples and pears baby food
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 dash onion powder
• 1 dash garlic powder
• 1/4 tsp vinegar
• 1 TBS sugar
• 2 drops red food coloring

Mix all ingredients together. Let sit in the fridge for an hour so flavors can meld, then stir again.

I couldn't find the plums with apples and pears, but I did find plums with apples. So I bought it and a jar of pears and mixed the two together and doubled the rest of the ingredients.

*******************************************************************

So then, since I had a ketchup for her, I thought I'd try meatloaf, since she recently passed a beef trial and can have beef now.

I use Aunt Lavona's recipe for meatloaf. It is:

• 1 lb ground meat
• 3-4 carrots finely chopped
• 1/2 tsp salt
• pepper
• 1/2 c or so oatmeal
• 1 cup of left over rice
• at least 1/2 c ketchup
• 1-2 tsp mustard
• chopped onion

Sauce

• 2-3 T ketchup
• 1 T br sugar
• garlic powder

Use plenty of ketchup and touch of mustard. (Tia's used her baby food ketchup, and didn't get mustard). Another key is to mix ingredients very well. It works best to use your hands and squeeze the mixture thru your fingers but I mixed real well w/a fork. The sauce of course mixes up after you've put the meat into a greased loaf pan and spreads over the top.

Then bake at 375 degrees for 1 hour and 20 minutes.

When Tia's came out I hesitantly tried it. I was surprised! It was delicious. WAY better than the one I made for the rest of the family with real ketchup!

Aaron got home and I had him try it too. He loved it. Until I told him the ketchup on hers was made out of baby food. Then he stopped chewing and said, "Baby food?! I'm eating meat and baby food??!?!?!!!" Trust me, though. It was good.