The Machine Shed's Famous Meatloaf

Food does more than just sustain us. It draws us together, as a family, and as a people.

If you ever find yourself in Davenport, Iowa, there is a restaurant that sits right off of Interstate 80 and it is packed morning, noon and night, serving up the best comfort food and pie in the area.

Mike Whalen opened the first Machine Shed in 1978 in rural Davenport. It had just 100 seats and he dedicated the business to the hard working American farmer.

Above the over hang for everyone to see reads, " Farming is Everyone's Bread & Butter".

The Shed is true to American form with their hard wood tables and chairs, cloth checkered napkins, the staff in their bib overalls and mason jars to drink out of. The atmosphere is homey and the smells remind me of my grandma's kitchen!

Is this the real drawl of the restaurant? It does add to the experience of it all, but the real drawl is the made from scratch food that is served up from sunrise to sunset. 

I have learned over the years that if I like something there, I don't have to spend a lot of time, money or energy trying to copy it at home. They are very generous with their recipes and to the Whalen family, if you have something good, share it, don't keep it to yourself.  That is just what they do. You can go to their website and find a section of their favorite award winning recipes to make at home. Are they just as good? YES!

 

Nothing says "comfort food" like meatloaf, and you will never find a shortage of this amazing dish in the Otwell house, despite Katie's resistance. Lamar loves meatloaf, and well, just meat in general, and their recipe is his absolute favorite. My mouth is watering just looking at the photo!

 
Gather your ingredients and here we go:

 

• 1 Egg, lightly beaten
• 1/2 Cup rolled oats
• 1/3 Cup milk
• 1/4 Cup finely chopped onion
• 1/4 Cup chopped celery
• 1/4 Cup Chopped green sweet pepper
• 1/4 Cup chopped red sweet pepper
• 1/4 Cup grated parmesan cheese
• 1 T Worcestershire sauce
• 1 t salt
• 1 t garlic salt
• 1 t ground black pepper
• 1 1/2 pounds ground beef
• 1/2 Cup ketchup

1. In a large bowl combine egg, oats, milk, onion, celery. sweet peppers, parmesan, Worcestershire, salt, garlic salt, and black pepper. Add meat; mix well. Lightly pat mixture into an 8x4x2 inch loaf pan. 

2. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 1 to 1 1/4 hours or until internal temperature registers 160 degrees. Spoon off fat. Spread ketchup over meatloaf. Bake for 10 minutes more. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.   

 

 

If you don't have the time or don't like to cook and have a hankering for homemade goodness, head to one of their locations in the Midwest:

 

Iowa: Davenport & Des Moines

Illinois: Rockford

Wisconsin: Pewaukee & Appleton

Minnesota: Lake Elmo

 

 

For more of their mouth watering recipes: www.machineshed.com