Old-Fashioned Meatloaf

from Not Your Mother's Slow Cooker Recipes for Two p. 188

1 1/2 lbs ground chuck	1 Tbsp minced onion or shallot
2/3 cup quick-cooking rolled oats	3 Tbsp grated carrot
1 egg, beaten	1 tsp salt
1/3 cup ketchup	ground black pepper to taste
1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce

1. Place the ground beef, oats, and egg in a large mixing bowl. Add the ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, onion, carrot, salt, and pepper. Using your hands or a large fork, mix gently but thoroughly, being careful not to compact the meat. shape the meat mixture into a mounded oval or round loaf, depending on the shape of your cooker.

2. Make a foil 'cradle' that will help you easily remove the meatloaf from the cooker when it is done. Tear a sheet of heavy-duty aluminum foil that is about 14 inches long. Fold in half lengthwise, then in half again lengthwise to make a strip about 3 inches wide. Place the foil strip into the crock. The edges of the foil will come up the sides of the crock; they don't need to come out the top. Center the meatloaf in the crock, on top of the strip. cover and cook on HIGH for 3 to 5 hours, until a meat thermometer inserted into the center of the meatloaf reads 160 to 165 degrees.

***Personal note: I thought the meatloaf was not as good as my own recipe, but my daughter loved it. I think 2 eggs were need to hold it together better. Maybe a little mustard would have helped the flavor. I also added some dry oregano and basil.

Chicken Breast with Tomato-Basil Sauce

p 199 The Marshall Field's Cookbook

4 boneless chicken breasts	1 shallot, minced
Salt & freshly ground pepper	2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup flour	2 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
1 Tbsp olive oil	3/4 cup chicken broth
3 Tbsp unsalted butter	16 grape tomatoes, halved
(at room temperature)	1/4 cup fresh basil, thinly sliced

Season the chicken breast on both sides with salt and pepper. Dredge in the flour and shake off any excess.

Combine the oil and 1 tablespoon of the butter in a large saute pan over medium-high heat. When the oil is hot, place the chicken in the pan and cook, turning once, for 5 - minutes on each side, until golden brown and cooked through. Remove from the pan and keep warm.

Add the shaallot and garlic to the hot pan. Saute for 1 minute, then add the viegar to deglaze the pan, using a wooden spoon to scrape up all the browned bits on the bottom. add the chicken broth and tomatoes and cook for 1 to 2 minutes, until reduced by half. Remove the pan from the heat. Stirring constantly, add the basil, remaining 2 tablespoons butter, and salt and pepper to taaste. stir until the butter is incorporated into the sauce.

Place the chicken breast on a serving platter and pour the sauce over. Serve at once.