This week Matt Swaim/Sonrise Morning Show on Sacred Heart Radio chatted about Bishop Fulton Sheen and his beatification. As a kid, I remember watching Bishop Sheen’s show on TV with. my dad. What I didn’t know is he is famous for what’s called “Sheen loaf” – a meatloaf accredited to him and quite popular back in the day. Well, now there’s a renewed interest in it and that’s what Matt and I talked about today. I made the recipe and tweaked it just a bit – it uses applesauce which is new to me in meatloaf and it turned out yummy! Here it is for you to try.

SHEENLOAF

2 pounds ground beef – I used ground chuck

1 cup applesauce – I loved using the applesauce cups that kids put in their lunch boxes – it took 2 cups to make 1 cup of applesauce

1 cup chopped green bell pepper – 1 regular bell, any color

1 cup chopped onion

6 slices bread, crumbled – count on about 2-1/2 cups for fresh; 2 for dry

1 large egg, lightly beaten

1 clove garlic, minced

1 teaspoon flour, plus some for dusting the meat

Salt and pepper to taste

Vegetable oil to coat the pan

6 tablespoons ketchup OR what I used: 1 cup ketchup, 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1 teaspoon dry mustard and 1/4 teaspoon each ground cloves and allspice. (From friend Carol Tabone)

Directions:

1. In a bowl, mix beef, applesauce, green pepper, onion, bread, egg, garlic, 1 teaspoon flour and salt and pepper.

2.  Form mixture into loaf and dust with flour. 

  3. Brush inside of pan with oil and then preheat oven to 350. Place meat in pan and spread ketchup on top. Bake for 1 hour and 20 minutes, until meat registers 165.