Dear M:

Ok, for the past month or so I feel like you’ve been dealt the short end of the stick around here. Somehow every weekend has produced a rather long honey to do list. I promise once spring passes it will get shorter. I just feel like things need. to. be. done. now. I can’t feel like I am fully to blame here as I recall you waking ME up one rainy Saturday morning all bright eyed and bushy tailed asking me what was on the project to do list for the day. Regardless though, it’s been a lot on your plate. It’s never a good sign when you become on a first name basis with the guys at Ace Hardware and Home Depot.

Somehow you have completely maintained not one but two homes, painted 3 rooms and a ceiling, installed lighting and fans, repaired a broken sink faucet, distressed and painted 3 pieces of furniture (they totally rock!), replaced doors, locks, and screens all the while keeping up with your actual white collar job that involves transporting yourself to the city daily so we can afford all of the above. Oh and in the midst of all this we are hosting Easter….sooo….obviously that involves some sort of work in the yard. Please don’t hate me.

The icing on the cake? While I was still snoozing away in my deep Easter coma Monday morning you were up at 5AM for a flight out of Midway to Salt Lake City. If I were you at that point I would have probably thought something along the lines of ‘I hate my life.’ So, here is my thank you to you. I knew you had to come home to something special – something that I would never make myself for dinner but that was purely an unselfish act to show my gratitude for all your hard work. I hope you enjoy as much as you enjoy the upcoming weekend that has absolutely nothing on the calendar. Oh wait – I think you want to replace 10 doors in our home. That’s your call.

Love,
C

A note on the meatloaf for M:

First of all, I know. Stop shuddering. I have never been a fan but this one is different. It’s wrapped in bacon. And there is a brown sugar glaze you spread on the top and slowly add more while it is baking away. Killer. The smell alone is worth it, never mind the look on M’s face when he saw what was waiting for him when he walked in the home. Need to make a guy smile? Here lies your answer.

Meatloaf – serves 4
Recipe Adapted from the Pioneer Woman

Ingredients:

-1 lbs ground beef
-3 slices plain white bread
-1/2 cup whole milk
-2 eggs, beaten
-1/4 cup freshly chopped parsley
-1 large garlic clove, minced
-salt & pepper
-bacon, about 6 thin slices
-1 1/2 cup ketchup
-1/3 cup brown sugar
-tabasco, as much as you’d like
-1/2 tsp dry mustard

Directions:

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.

Pour milk over your bread slices and allow to soak for a few minutes.

Combine all ingredients, up until the bacon, together in a large bowl. With clean hands mix away!

Line a baking sheet with foil. Place a broiler pan on top of your baking sheet and form your meat mixture into a loaf on top. (This way all the grease from the meats will drip down!). Take your bacon slices and wrap around the top of the loaf, tucking the edges underneath.

Mix together the remaining ingredients to form your glaze and pour about 1/3 cup over the top and use a spoon to cover evenly. Bake for 45 minutes. Take out, pour another 1/3 cup over and bake for an additional 15 minutes until nice and browned all over.

Use the remaining sauce for serving on the side.

Perfect with mashed potatoes for dipping and a 37 degree Chicago night.

Courtney

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