Bubby's Meat Loaf with Green Beans

Oct. 5, 2006 — -- This is a very special, personal recipe for me because it came from a very special, personal person: my grandmother.

I call my grandmother Bubby -- her real name is Shirley -- and this is one of the dishes she makes for me when we are together.

My Bubby has been making this for me for more than 25 years, and I was addicted to this meat loaf as a little kid.

Bubby had to cut me off after seconds.

For the Meat Loaf

For the Red Pepper Sauce

For the Green Beans

Direction:
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Whisk together the eggs, tomato paste, water, salt, pepper, and cayenne in a large mixing bowl. Add the remaining ingredients and work together completely until all the ingredients are evenly distributed. Place the meat mixture into a baking pan and shape into a loaf about 11 inches long and 4 inches wide. The loaf should be in the middle of the pan. Make the red pepper sauce by placing all the ingredients in a blender or food processor and puréeing till smooth. Cover the meat loaf with red pepper sauce and allow the excess sauce to pool in around the meat loaf. Cover the pan with aluminum foil but avoid contact with the meat loaf by leaving at least a couple of inches of space between the top of the meat loaf and the foil. Bake 45 minutes, then uncover, scatter, and submerge the potatoes in the pan juices, and bake 45 minutes longer, until the potatoes are fork-tender. Make the string beans: Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Add the beans and cook for just 1 minute to 2 minutes, until the beans turn bright green. Strain them and run under cold water to stop them from cooking. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add a few pinches of salt and the vinegar and let cook down for 1 minute to 2 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and toss in the beans to coat them thoroughly and evenly with the dressing.

Serves 8