Roasted Green Beans

I had a craving for comfort food. Earlier in the week, I was planning to make stroganoff, but by yesterday I had changed my mind to meatloaf. I can't remember the last time I had meatloaf. It's been years. When I was a teenager, I made it for Dad for dinner on a regular basis; it was one of his favorites. It's just the recipe from the Lipton Soup box, but I originally got it from my great aunt Edna.

I had angst over whether to make these garlic mashed potatoes. For only 2 pounds of potatoes, you need an entire stick of butter and a cup of half-and-half?? Yes, of course these are delicious. Why wouldn't they be? Very rich and the perfect amount of garlic.

These green beans are my new favorite. I made them earlier this week and couldn't resist making them again. They are so good that I can't imagine they wouldn't convert a green bean hater. But who knows? Actually, they were better Monday, because I let them brown more. I was a little rushed tonight.

Jiffy cake is just as easy, if not easier than the yogurt cake, and it's richer and more tender. Much better.

• Lipton Souperior Meatloaf
  
• Garlic Mashed Potatoes (Cook's Illustrated, September & October 2000, p. 10-11)
• Roasted Green Beans with Red Onion and Walnuts (Cook's Illustrated, November and December 2005, p. 10)
• Jiffy Cake (recipe courtesy of Sara Moulton)