Shakespeare at Large

I was looking for a yummy Halloween-themed dinner recipe and came across this. Macbeth has been on my mind all week, so you can imagine how excited I was! Its creator is chef Nan Slaughter (seriously), and the recipe is featured on The Food Network website.

Ms. Slaughter calls this "Dead Man Over Worms." I have re-christened it "King Duncan After Macbeth Stabs Him Meatloaf."

Duncan's murder occurs offstage in Macbeth, so we are left to imagine the horror of the event. With the meatloaf, you can do just this---and have dinner!

"King Duncan After Macbeth Stabs Him Meatloaf”

3 eggs
2/3 cup milk
2 slices French bread torn into small pieces
1 cup oatmeal
1/2 cut grated carrot
1/2 cup finely chopped onion
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1 tablespoon chopped fresh Italian parsley
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon bouquet garni
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
2 pounds lean ground beef
1 pound mild Italian sausage
1 (16 oz.) package spaghetti noodles, cooked according to package directions
Butter

Topping:
1 cup tomato ketchup
1 cup packed brown sugar
2 teaspoons prepared mustard
1/4 cup maple syrup

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, beat the eggs. Add milk, bread, and oatmeal. Stir in carrots, onions, cheese, herbs, and seasonings. Add beef and sausage and mix well. In a shallow baking dish, shape beef mixture into the shape of a body. Round ball for head, (about the size of a softball) oval shape for body, mounding up for tummy. Shape arms and place next to body (you don't want them sticking out or they will cook too quickly.) Shape legs and place next to each other, not apart. Smooth meatloaf so the "seams" are not apparent.

Make topping. Combine all ingredients in a small bowl and mix well. (This topping is very sweet, but it's the perfect "sticky-bloody-glaze" for this meatloaf.)
Bake meatloaf for 45 minutes, then spoon half of the sauce over meatloaf. Return to the oven and continue baking for an additional 45 minutes or until meatloaf is cooked thoroughly. (Total baking time about 1 1/2 hours - cover with foil if it gets too brown.) While meatloaf is baking cook spaghetti noodles according to package directions. Rinse noodles and put butter, to taste, on them; set aside.

When meatloaf is done, remove from oven and let stand for 10 minutes. Put buttered spaghetti noodles on a tray. Carefully place meatloaf on top of spaghetti noodles, using two spatulas. Don't worry if an arm or a leg falls off - just "reattach" and cover with sauce. Before serving place a knife in the "heart" of the deadman. Pour remaining sauce over top of deadman.