In 5th century Europe, Romans scraped together nuts, fruits, and seasonings to create a dish they called “Pastez.” This dish has developed into a modern-day sensation. Meatloaf has been a staple on my mom's side of the family. We enjoy meatloaf at family reunions and holidays. It's not just my favorite food, but also a connection to my family’s heritage.
As European immigrants first settled in America, they implemented many of their simple meat dishes into American cuisine. Meatloaf became popular amidst the Great Depression as an affordable meal for Americans. Many people also had gardens and raised their own vegetables. My family comes from a farming background, and my great-great grandparents and great-grandparents raised almost all of the food that they ate. My great-grandparents taught me a lot about our farming heritage. They have lived on a farm all their lives and pursued careers as farmers. As beef farmers, they always had availability to meat and among other dishes, meatloaf always stayed in the dinner rotation. 
My grandfather developed a famous meatloaf recipe that has become a legend across the Shores lineage. It contains perfectly cooked vegetables and ground beef and the best sauce I’ve ever tasted! He passed it down to his daughters and it will be passed down for generations to come.
Meatloaf may just be a dish, but I’ve learned to view it as more. Meatloaf is a connection to history and an importance piece of my American identity.

– HC

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