I learned to make meatloaf from Mom. Like a lot of dishes, there was no recipe per se. Mom often made what she called “garbage meatloaf. Whatever she had went into the mixture. I often add grated carrot. Adds a little color and some Vitamin A. And as Mom did, I use oatmeal instead of bread crumbs as many recipes call for. Makes the meatloaf softer plus it adds fiber and various nutrients.
We use oatmeal in our house, too - my husband’s recipe. But I think what I liked about my Granny’s recipe is that at some point, it included that little packet of dried onion stuff - the one you make onion dip out of. And there wasn’t a lot of tomato-y stuff in it.
But she was making this recipe before i think that she could have gotten that dried onion; so I’m thinking there must have been an older recipe.
It was just very savory, and nicely firm when it was cold...
-JT