Using Your Imagination - Food Storage Meatloaf

This one was created on a whim one night when my husband said he was in the mood for a good old fashioned meal.  I asked what he was in the mood for and he said something with gravy.  I had been wondering if you could make a meatloaf out of the freeze dried meats from Thrive, and there were several recipes I found, but they all used the Freeze dried ground meat. 

I figured I would do like I did when I made meatballs a few weeks ago, and I crushed the meat chunks until it was almost powdered. Then placed it a bowl with the water, and followed the rest of my standard meatloaf recipe.  It worked great. 

It was too soft to place in a square baking dish because it would  not hold is shape.  It also wasn't quite enough meat to bake in a large loaf pan, so I used two small loaf pans instead.  I oiled them up a little bit, placed the meat mix in and baked!  I served it with a side of mashed potatoes and some gravy made with our Chicken Bullion, as well as a healthy helping of Freeze dried corn cooked to perfection.  It was definitely that old fashioned home cooked meal Jim had been looking for.

I had a little of one loaf left over for the next day and I sliced it up to fry with some eggs. It just needed to heat through and brown up a little bit.  OH MY GOODNESS! It was wonderful.  It even tasted just like a slice of sausage. 

My next goal is to make it ahead, refrigerate one and freeze one. Just to see how it works.  Will keep you posted.  Give it a try and see what your family thinks - I hope you enjoy it as much as we did!

Food Storage Chicken Meatloaf
2-5 servings

1 1/2 Cup Freeze Dried Chicken Chunks, crushed as small as possible so that it resembles dried ground meat (this is great for that powder at the bottom of the can!)
1 Cup water

2/3 Cups Oats
1/4 Cup Milk
2 Eggs
1 tsp Rosemary
1/2 tsp Garlic powder, or more to taste
1/2 tsp Onion powder, or more to taste
1/2 tsp black Pepper, or more to taste
Salt to taste
May also add any other spices or herbs you usually like to add to your meatloaf.

In a large bowl, place the crushed chicken and 1 Cup water. Mix well and allow to rehydrate fully, then add the rest of ingredients to the bowl. Mix all ingredients well. Separate evenly and place each half into one of two prepared small loaf pans, pack each loaf firmly.

Bake in a 375 degree F preheated oven for 20-25 minutes until baked firm. Remove from oven and allow to sit for 5 minutes to cool. Remove from pans, slice and serve!!

This is excellent served as you would any meatloaf with gravy, mashed potatoes, and a side of corn! Also wonderful with a ketchup sauce like the diners serve. Serves 2 to 4 people.

Want some sausage for breakfast? Place it in the fridge over night and slice it in the morning. Fry it in a little oil and serve it with your eggs.  How about making sausage and egg sandwiches?  Or maybe some sausage and gravy from your meatloaf?  This makes a great, versatile meat product for every day AND a great home cooked meal.