One of the things that I love to do most is make a meal that is easy and affordable. I am a college student on a limited income, so sometimes home-cooked meals are hard to come by. I have always been good at being creative with food. I have an awesome meatloaf recipe that I love to make because it doesn't require a lot of difficult ingredients, and it complements just about any side dish.

The good thing about meatloaf is that you can add stuff to it to act as a filler. You will need the following ingredients:

1 lb ground beef
1 onion
1 green pepper
1 small can tomato sauce
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1/4 cup ketchup
1/3 cup crushed saltine crackers, bread crumbs, or crushed crackers
1 egg
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp garlic
1/2 tsp sage

1. Dice up the onions and the green peppers. Make sure that all of the seeds are removed.

2. Spray a loaf pan with non-stick spray. Set aside. Preheat oven at 350 degrees.

3. Combine all seasonings in a small bowl. Set aside. In a separate bowl, scramble the egg. Set aside for the next step.

4. In a large bowl, combine, ground beef, Worcestershire sauce, tomato sauce, onion, green pepper, and the scrambled egg.

5. Add crushed bread crumbs and seasonings. If it seems a little dry, go ahead and add a tablespoon of water.

6. Put the meatloaf into the greased pan. Cover with ketchup. Put into the oven, and cook for 45 minutes to an hour. Check for doneness. It should no longer be pink, but brown.

My favorite part about this meatloaf recipe is the ketchup. The ketchup ends up acting as a glaze for the meatloaf, giving it a savory appeal.

Here is a side dish that will go well with it. Garlic mashed potatoes are one of my favorite dishes to make at home.

Garlic mashed potatoes

You will need:

4-6 small red potatoes. Do not peel, the skin adds texture. You can also use russet potatoes, but you will have to peel them. I like the red skinned potatoes better.

1 tbs garlic powder
1/4 cup milk
1/4 cup sour cream
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp white ground pepper
1/2 tsp black pepper

Directions:

1. Boil a huge 4 quart pot of water.

2. Add potatoes, cook until soft, about 15 minutes

3. Drain into a strainer, and put into a large mixing bowl.

4. Add sour cream and milk, blend with a hand mixer until all lumps are removed.

5. Add salt, both peppers, and garlic powder. Blend well with mixer. Add more garlic if you like.

Here you go! A meal that aims to please. Please read my other articles and blogs listed under my author bio.