an ode to the meatloaf sandwich (not for food snobs)

When people talk about what they'd choose for their last meal, they always seem to come up with all sorts of hoity-toity, fancy-pants things. To try and fit in, the best lie I can come up with is to say mine would be a ribeye steak, french fries, pumpkin pie, and an entire bottle of champagne. In truth my chosen last meal would be a little more low-brow. I'd stick with the pumpkin pie and champagne but I'd trade the steak frites for a big old meatloaf sandwich with a cheesy twice-baked potato on the side.

Meatloaf sandwiches! They were my favorite thing to find wrapped in wax paper in my Charlie Brown lunchbox. Big slice of cold leftover meatloaf between two slices of bread smeared with ketchup and yellow mustard. Back then, there was probably a big pickle wedge on the side.

Meatloaf seems to be one of those things people either love or hate. Like tuna sandwiches and split pea soup. I imagine there's some pretty bad meatloaf out there, but I've always been a fan. With something potato-y on the side, it's my idea of comfort food at its best.

Now in truth, I haven't had a meatloaf sandwich in years, probably because my carnivorous husband never leaves any leftovers behind. But today for lunch I decided to get all nostalgic and make myself a sammich and see if it was as good as I remember. Maybe I wouldn't like it anymore. Maybe my last meal really would be steak and fries.

I'm happy to report it was just as good as I remember. Maybe even better.

What would your last meal be -- fess up, is it hoity-toity or not?

Comments

[Amanda]

Mac and Cheese. The kind from the box. Yup, I'm full of class.

[siri]

First I was going to say my mom's hamburger hotdish made with cream of mushroom soup, but then I'd have to put in the clause: only if it were a day old and heated up in the microwave. That's too many specifics.

So I'll just leave it at "a summer picnic dinner". Something like; BBQ chicken thighs, grits with cheddar, corn on the cob, cole slaw, and a slice of apple pie.

[Mary]

I'm partial to spaghetti and meatballs. I would like the meatballs homemade please. Also a big bowl of peppermint ice cream (the kind with the red and green candies in it). I'm thinking my food tastes lean toward the lower brow. :)

[Jennifer]

Yum-meatloaf-I am ALL over that!

My last meal would be ritzy chicken-cooked chicken mixed with sour cream and cream of chicken soup and topped with butter ritz crackers-baked til bubbling and served over rice. And my mother's red velvet cake.

[Kirstin]

I LOVE meatloaf sandwiches. I also love homemade mac n cheese but I think my last meal would have to be something Mexican inspired, like chimichangas, taquitos, burritos, fajitas or all of the above with a large side of rice, beans and queso dip. And milk and oreo cookies for dessert.

[Jenny]

Mmmm meatloaf. I lived on meatloaf sandwiches in college. They were always on the left over shelf at the restaurant where I worked. My last meal would have to be a childhood staple: It's a tough choice between beans and franks or grilled American cheese sandwiches made with white sandwich bread, and jello desert. Preferably the desert should be one with different layers and colors, ice cream and lots of coolwhip in it. My step- sister makes one that looks like the old nougat candy with different colored squares of Jello suspended in a pink fluff. But also give me a nice bottle of Prosecco and some petits fours, and like Kristin Oreos

[Constance]

My mom's swiss steak. My mashed potatoes. My Aunt Carlita's cooked greens. And for desert, applesauce cake with raisins and brown sugar penuche frosting. Or sweet potato pie. Or pumpkin. Or my sour cherry. Or my Grandma Pryor's lemon meringue. Or flan. Hell, just bring over the desert cart.

My husband's meatloaf would send me to my grave happy too.