Making Meatloaf for (Mad) Men

I’m sure I’m not the only one who recently rewatched all of Season 2 of Mad Men in preparation for the third season’s premier. Seeing it all again, this time without commercials and in epic late-night three-hour chunks, the central message of the series came through loud and clear: having a successful husband and a house in the suburbs isn’t enough to satisfy a woman, so if you are female, be grateful you weren’t born in 1945.

Yes, it is infuriating when Joan’s fiancé orders her to get him a glass of water as if the idea of turning on a tap himself was never a possibility, and it makes me cringe whenever the wives on the show act like airline stewardesses in their own homes. How tragic that all Betty has no choice but to drown her misery in red wine as her family slathers ketchup on the meatloaf she slaves over every day and generously places on the checkered tablecloth.

Seriously, Mad Men would have you believe that all people ate in 1960 was meatloaf. Maybe we’re supposed to feel liberated from meatloaf too, grateful for a Vegetarian Entrée Liberation that occurred some time during the 90s. But this one doesn’t quite resound for me like the feminist message. Instead, it just makes me want meatloaf. And this Sunday, I decided that I am liberated enough to make it as part of a nice, home-cooked meal for some hardworking men on the occasion of the premier of Season 3.

Meatloaf seems to have gone out of style, but it shouldn’t have. It’s wonderfully easy, since it involves only two culinary skills: mix and shove into oven. And I have a feeling that it’s fairly foolproof – I’m not convinced that adding or leaving out an egg, or using more oats or less breadcrumbs will make too much of a difference, at least not a negative one. You thought it couldn't get better, but wait – you also get the delightful sensory experience of sticking your hands in a bowl of ground up meat! (If you were a sixties housewife, of course, this would be the only joy in your day.) For this one I wanted to test out a basic recipe I could add on to in the future, so I kept the seasonings simple. But I have lots of ideas for future loaves: roasted squash, mushrooms, curry, gorgonzola….

This one seemed to be a success – the three guys who tried it all had second helpings. Since it’s 2009, my opinion counts as well, and I can say I was very happy with it. It also made a very tasty sandwich the next day.

 

Mad Men Meatloaf

1 ¼ pounds ground turkey
¾ cup oats 
1 medium onion, minced (reserve a few slices for top)
1 carrot, minced 1 clove of garlic, minced
dash of hot sauce
2 (generous) tablespoons tomato paste
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 ½ teaspoons fresh sage, chopped
pinch of salt, dash of pepper

For rosemary balsamic glaze:
½ - ¾ cup ketchup
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 teaspoon fresh rosemary, chopped
¼ teaspoon chili powder

Mix all ingredients for meatloaf together and form into a loaf on a greased baking sheet. Stir together the ingredients for the glaze and brush about a third of it onto the loaf, then top with the onion slices. Bake at 350 F for an hour, glazing it two more times during baking. Let it rest for a few minutes after removing from the oven (it will stay warm for an impressively long time).