Good and bad things have been said about meat loaf. Without question, it is considered as one of most talked about comfort foods. There are as many recipes for meat loaf as there are people who have opinions (good or bad) about this dish. Some think of meat loaf as a catch-all leftover dish, combining whatever that had not been consumed the dinner before. There are several interesting recipes when it comes to the filler.

Sometimes the filler for a meat loaf recipe is regional and even cultural. Bread crumbs can be of any origin, including sour dough, whole wheat, rye, and panko (Japanese light breading for tempura batter). More exotic fillers include bulgar wheat, couscous, millet, brown rice, barley, potatoes, and oat meal. No matter what the filler might be, a recipe for meat loaf offers signature for a comfort food.

Oat meal by itself is sometimes thought of as a comfort food. When it is an ingredient for meat loaf, it makes the recipe even more special for some people. As is the case with many grains, oat meal is cooked without any seasonings (although this could be done) first, before being added to the meat loaf mixture. Most recipes call for a thorough mixing of the filler with the ground meat prior to cooking. For pockets of texture and character to the meat loaf, grains should be mixed into the meat by hand.

Yahoo! News Search Results for comfort foods
Yahoo! News Search Results for comfort foods

Rocco DiSpirito rehabs fatty comfort foods (Lifewise on Canoe)
Rocco DiSpirito used all of his culinary tricks to slash calories from the 150 fatty foods Americans love in his new book, "NOW eat THIS!"
Smithfield Foods sees profit in 3Q, tops forecasts (AP via Yahoo! News)
Smithfield Foods Inc., the nation's largest hog producer and pork processor, reported a profit on Thursday for its third quarter after more than a year of losses.
Ground beef an all-star of comfort foods (Honolulu Advertiser)
There are so many delicious meals to make with ground beef. No doubt you have a favorite spaghetti sauce or chili recipes that use ground beef. Meatloaf and meatballs are the kind of comfort food that's perfect for a Sunday Night Supper. And what about a delicious, hearty combination with fresh Island eggs and locally grown greens for a Sunday brunch?
Smithfield Foods sees profit in 3Q, tops forecasts (Bay News 9 Tampa Bay)
Smithfield Foods returns to 3rd-qtr sales rise overseas, beats Wall Street forecasts
WATCH: More of Rocco's Low-Cal Meal Makeovers (ABC News)
Chef Rocco DiSpirito whips up some comfort foods under 350 calories. Rocco DiSpirito - United States - Business - Hospitality - Food Service
Rosebud returns to its Italian roots (The Beacon News)
The Rosebud eatery in downtown Naperville has returned to its Italian roots.The restaurant, which has been in Naperville since 1993, revamped from Rosebud Burgers and Comfort Foods to Rosebud Italian Specialties and Pizzeria, said general manager Jay DeMarco. The new menu is full of Italian favorites and specialties, from the appetizers down through the entrees.
Smallest Finger Foods (Fox News)
New York-based caterer sparks national trend by miniaturizing comfort food, proving size may not matter after all
Falafel Republic Introduces First-Ever Fresh Falafel (Business Wire via Yahoo...
NEEDHAM, Mass.----As America?s fascination with authentic ethnic foods continues to grow, Falafel Republic proudly introduces fresh, fully-cooked falafel in two savory flavors: Traditional and Roasted Garlic.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY BEST-SELLERS (AP via Yahoo! News)
1. "House Rules: A Novel" by Jodi Picoult (Atria)
Sign in to MassLive.com (The Republican)
Spring sampler returns to Young Building %%by%%By KEITH J. O'CONNOR%%eby%%%%bodybegin%%"People find warmth and comfort in handmade work and are drawn to it, especially in these economic times," said potter Robert Fishman.