It’s summertime and the grillin’s easy. I look forward to the days when I can grill dinner and make everyone happy (kids included) without having to dirty a pan or baking dish. Problem is, we’re getting tired of burgers and hot dogs, and while there are many other delicious things you can make on the grill, hot dogs are just about the only grilled item my kids will eat.
So when it’s not above 100°, I’m still cooking dinner in the oven. Some of our favorites include lasagna with homemade tomato sauce, tater tot casserole, and pizza. Today I’m baking my All American Meatloaf. It is delicious but unfortunately cleanup can be a nightmare.
Normally I have to soak the pan in soapy water overnight, and I absolutely despise having dirty dishes sitting in my sink. Last week I found a new product at Target, Scotch-Brite® Scrubbing Dish Cloths which claim to provide serious scrubbing power without scratching and damaging your pots and pans.
I knew my All American Meatloaf would create a mess that would put these dish cloths to the test.I call this ‘All American’ because in the mix are the traditional American fixins: onions, ketchup, mustard, even crackers.
- 1 lb. ground turkey
- 1 egg
- 15 butter crackers, mashed
- ½ onion, chopped
- ½ cup ketchup + ½ cup for topping
- ⅛ cup mustard
- salt + pepper to taste.
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
- In a large bowl, combine the turkey, egg, crackers, onion, ¼ cup of the ketchup, mustard, salt, pepper and mix well.
- Shape into to large loaves and place onto a greased broiler pan so that the drippings drain to the bottom.
- Spread the remaining ketchup on top of the meatloaf.
- Bake for approximately 50 minutes.
We are regular users of the Scotch-Brite scrubbing sponges, but I do like washing dishes with a soft washcloth. The new Scotch-Brite dish cloths are the best of both worlds, and I was amazed at their scrubbing power on one side, and a gently soft cloth on the other. My messy pan was cleaned up in mere seconds!
Whenever we bake meat in the oven, we end up with grease splatter everywhere. So not only do the pots and pans need a good scrubbing, the oven needs to be cleaned up too. I stopped buying chemical oven cleaners a while back because it’s much more effective, cheaper and safer to make your own natural cleaner.
Homemade Natural Oven Cleaner
Step 1: Just make a paste using baking soda and water.
Step 2: Remove the oven racks from the oven and lay them out onto the counter.
Step 3: Brush or sponge the mixture onto the filthy oven surfaces and the racks that you set aside.
Step 4: Let sit for at least an hour. If your oven is really dirty, let sit overnight.
Step 5: Scrub with the scrubber side of the Scotch-Brite Scrubbing Dish Cloths, then wipe down the surfaces with the soft side of your damp cloth until no residue remains.
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Mmm we love meatloaf. That recipes sound delish. What a great product for clean up too!
Thank you for the help and the item idea.
My husband does most of the cleaning in our household and I am sure he will appreciate this.
Omg! I just love meatloaf!!!! Have to give your yummy recipe a try!
Such an awesome recipe idea! I love this! Quick and easy recipes are usually so important in the summer months since we’re all running around like crazy – I need to give this a try!
Meatloaf is what I have been thinking about this week so I will have to try this recipe. The Scotch Brite Scrubbing Dish Cloths are something I am going to have to get. They really do make clean ups easier. Thanks for sharing the recipe and the clothes.
What a quick, easy and yummy dinner idea! Meatloaf is so yummy and there’s so many ways to make it – but this way looks great! I’ll definitely need to try this, yum!
The meatballs looks tasty. The scrubbing dish cloth looks really effective in cleaning dishes.
Wow it looks like it was so easy to clean up. I will have to give this delicious recipe a try.
Your meatloaf recipe looks yummy. Meatloaf can be messy, good thing you have scotch brite for the clean up.
That will definitely help. I really have to see about getting a few of them.
What a super easy recipe idea, I have never made meatloaf but would like to master that someday ;)