KJL's TV Dinners: June Cleaver's Meatloaf

Welcome to June Cleaver's kitchen! We're in the middle of the winter season, which means you're probably craving warm, delicious comfort food. You want to stay indoors and eat the meals that make everything better. Everyone has food they crave, but nothing satisfies your taste buds more than a warm, steaming plate of meatloaf.

Whenever I think of meatloaf, I imagine June Cleaver from the classic 1950s and '60s television comedy, Leave It to Beaver. While the show focused primarily on the adventures of Beaver "Beav" (Jerry Mathers) and his older brother, Wally (Tony Dow), the sitcom was, at its core, a family show. June (Barbara Billingsley) was always either cleaning the house while wearing a dress and pearls, or she was in the kitchen cooking meatloaf, canned corn, mashed potatoes and gravy, and chocolate cake. The father, Ward (Hugh Beaumont) always arrived home from work just in time for dinner, where everyone sat down at the table together and had a traditional family dinner.

Leave It to Beaver (photo/Closer Weekly)

Leave It to Beaver is a quintessential 1950s television series. June was a housewife while Ward went to work. The children got into mischief and always learned an important life lesson by the end of the episode. It was a wholesome series. I wish there were more shows like that for today's audiences.

June Cleaver (Barbara Billingsley) cooking in the kitchen in Leave It to Beaver (photo/Mary Kassian).

This month's TV Dinners food blog is a tribute to June Cleaver and Leave It to Beaver. June was often seen cooking meatloaf for dinner. I'm not sure what recipe she used, but I love my grandma's recipe. It's comfort food at its finest. Whenever it's chilly outside, my grandma's meatloaf doesn't just satisfy your taste buds, but it warms your whole body with its steamy, delicious flavors.

Meatloaf

To prepare this recipe, you will need the following ingredients:

• 1 lb. lean ground beef
• Egg
• 8-10 crushed saltine crackers
• 1/4 c. milk (I used skim milk, but you can use whichever you prefer.)
• 1/4 tsp. black pepper
• 1/2 c. ketchup
• 1/4 c. brown sugar

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Mix the egg, cracker crumbs, milk, and pepper in a medium-sized mixing bowl with the ground beef. If you notice the mixture is too dry, add more milk. Then, if there's too much liquid, add more cracker crumbs until you have arrived at your desired texture. 

Form the meat mixture into a loaf and place it in a 9x13 baking dish. Pour in approximately 1/4 to 1/2 cup of water around the meatloaf before baking. Then, bake for approximately 50 to 60 minutes. 

Our meatloaf sauce is a family tradition. Some people (maybe even June Cleaver) simply pour ketchup on top of the meatloaf and call it a day. Well, my grandma took it up a notch and mixed 1/2 cup of ketchup with 1/4 cup of brown sugar. Stir until well combined. This mixture is sweet and a little tangy, and it will pair well with the meatloaf. Trust me on this. 

When the meatloaf has baked for approximately 40 minutes, add the sauce. Take a fork and poke a few holes into the top of the meatloaf. Spread the sauce evenly on top. Allow the meatloaf to finish baking. The sauce should be a smooth glaze. 

We always pair our meatloaf with warm, delicious mashed potatoes, roasted carrots, and a dinner roll. This is a comforting meal on any winter day. Enjoy! 

Be sure to wear a pearl necklace or a polka dot dress like June Cleaver. If it worked for her, it can work for you. 

-KJL-