Summer Comfort Dinner

When I was planning the meal I would deliver to The Robinson's, I wanted to make something both comforting and fitting to the weather.
This is my version of a cozy comfort dinner, summer style:

Bacon Cheeseburger Meatloaf




1 pound ground chuck
10 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
1 (8-ounce) package sharp Cheddar, grated
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1/4 cup bread crumbs, toasted
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/3 cup ketchup
2 tablespoons prepared mustard
1 (3-ounce) can French fried onions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
In a large bowl, combine the ground chuck and next 8 ingredients, mixing well.

In a small bowl, combine the ketchup and mustard. Stir 1/4 cup ketchup mixture into meat mixture, reserving remaining ketchup mixture.

Press meat mixture into a 9 by 5 by 3-inch loaf pan, or shape into a loaf and place on a rack in a broiler pan. Spread remaining ketchup mixture over loaf. Bake 40 minutes. Top with French fried onions; bake another 10 to 15 minutes, or until meat is no longer pink.

New Potato Green Bean Salad





1 (3-pound) bag new potatoes, quartered
1 pound fresh green beans, cut into bite-sized pieces
1/3 cup olive oil
2 1/2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1/4 teaspoon dried dill
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

In a large saucepan, add potatoes to enough water to cover. Bring to a boil, and boil for 8 minutes. Add green beans, return to a boil and cook for 2 minutes. Drain and cool slightly.
Place potatoes and green beans in a serving bowl.

In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil and next 5 ingredients. Pour over potato and green beans, tossing gently to coat. Cover and chill


Cookies and Cream Icecream is Tom's favorite. Since it was Spencer's birthday on tuesday, I knew I wanted to include a "birthday cake" I intended on making it from scratch, but when I was at the grocery store today...they actually had one displayed for sale....I weighed my options and decided to save a little time and just buy the cake...I hope they like it! But here is the recipe for it:




1 (18.25 ounce) package white cake mix
1 1/4 cups water
1/3 cup vegetable oil
3 egg whites
1 cup chocolate sandwich cookie crumbs
3 cups confectioners' sugar
3/4 cup shortening
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 egg whites
12 chocolate sandwich cookies

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour two 9 inch round cake pans.
In a large bowl, mix the cake mix, water, oil, and 3 egg whites with an electric mixer on high speed for 2 minutes. Gently stir in crushed cookies. Pour batter into the prepared pans.
Bake for 25 to 35 minutes in the preheated oven, or until a knife inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes in pans. Remove from pans, and completely cool on racks.
To Make Frosting: In a small bowl, thoroughly blend the 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar, shortening, vanilla, and 2 egg whites. Beat in remaining confectioners' sugar until creamy. Frost the cake, and garnish with remaining cookies

I think jazzing up dinner deliveries is a nice way to let the person know they are special, loved and worth the time. Any act of service is greatly appreciated--but if you have the time, why not make it pretty? Thats my way of looking at it. What I did was simple and fun. I just took a basket and filled it with mossy grass (I was going for a green/brown theme for this one) and some green/brown potporri pieces. I labeled everything with natural brown cardstock with a green font. I made a decorative sign "Families are Forever" adorned with ribbon and matching grass cardstock. Put it in a cello-bag and tied it with raffia. You dont have to have fancy schmancy things to make a friendly presentation!