Erin French’s Personal Recipes

Make “Dad’s Meatloaf” and a “Maple Manhattan” from The Lost Kitchen by Erin French, author of the new memoir Finding Freedom.

Dad’s Meatloaf

When I was away at college, this is the dish I craved the most. It is my dad’s recipe, one that he taught me how to make in the diner. I put my own spin on it and frequently treat myself to this on chilly nights with a baked potato and sour cream—or, for this more refined version, a bed of magenta slaw or a silky parsnip puree.

SERVES 8

FOR THE MEATLOAF

1½ pounds ground beef

1½ pounds ground pork

¾ cup shredded carrot

½ cup chopped shallots

½ cup shredded pecorino

2 cups ½-inch bread cubes, such as crusty sourdough

2 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves

2 large eggs

½ cup whole milk

2 teaspoons salt

6 to 8 twists of pepper

FOR THE GLAZE

½ cup packed light brown sugar

¾ cup ketchup 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

Preheat the oven to 375°F.

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START THE MEATLOAF: Combine all of the meatloaf ingredients in a large bowl and use your hands to mix them until just evenly combined. Do not overmix. Divide the mixture between two 9 × 5-inch loaf pans.

MAKE THE GLAZE: In a medium bowl, stir together all of the ingredients.

Brush the top of each meatloaf with a thick coat of the glaze. Transfer to the oven and bake until an instant-read thermometer reads 150°F, 45 minutes. Let the meatloaf rest for 10 to 15 minutes, then unmold, cut into slices, and serve.

Maple Manhattan

MAKES 1 COCKTAIL

2 ounces rye whiskey

½ ounce sweet vermouth

½ ounce maple syrup

2 dashes of Angostura bitters

Ice

Maraschino cherry, for garnish (or liquor-soaked fresh cherries, if you can find them)

Combine the whiskey, vermouth, maple syrup, and bitters in a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake for 30 seconds and strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with a cherry.

Reprinted from The Lost Kitchen. Copyright 2017 by Erin French. Photos by Nicole Franzen. Published by Clarkson Potter, an imprint of Random House.

The Lost Kitchen: Recipes and a Good Life Found in Freedom, Maine: A Cookbook

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Apple Books

Finding Freedom: A Cook’s Story; Remaking a Life from Scratch

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Apple Books