Rhonda Fleming’s Hollywood Ham Loaf vs Theodore Bikel’s Glorified Meat Loaf

Who would win in a fight? Rhonda Fleming or Theodore Bikel? Well, me and Mr R considered the benefits of each of their meatloaves on Saturday as I took two big chunks of each out of the frozen archives.

Rhonda on the left, Theodore on the right.

At first Mr R said: “I do have a favourite meatloaf, but I’m not going to tell you yet.”  I said, “why?” He said: “Because I might change my mind.”  I agree, it was very hard to choose, but in the end, I preferred Rhonda’s lighter hammy loaf, Mr R was drawn to Theodore’s as he thinks “meatloaf should be beefy.”

Mr R is “Son of Heinz”

We have both come a long way since the only thing we knew about Meat Loaf was that he was a big fella that sung “Bat Out of Hell”.  Actually, I have just made myself laugh.  I was trying to decipher some drunken scribblings I made on an envelope on Saturday night about this dinner.

Mentioning Meat Loaf – the singer – has made one scribbling clear:

Me: I personally find it very hard to choose.

Mr R: You took the words right out of my mouth.

Doh!

Here are the recipes for both the meatloaves – they are both GOOD! – I am not sure if Meatloaf should be one word or two – needs clarification.  Theodore goes for two…

Theodore Bikel’s Glorified Meat Loaf

2 lbs chopped meat

1 green pepper, cut into small pieces

dehydrated onions, amounting to one or two onions, depending upon one’s taste

1 cup red table wine

1 cup raisins

1 cup seasoned breadcrumbs

2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

1 teaspoon garlic salt

1 teaspoon seasoning salt

1 egg

Form into loaf, then bake in moderate 325 degrees oven [160 degrees C, gas mark 3] for 45 minutes to one hour.

Rhonda Fleming’s Hollywood Ham Loaf

2/3 lb cured ham (ground/minced)

1 and 1/3 lb fresh pork (ground/minced)

1 cup fine breadcrumbs

1/4 teaspoon pepper

2 eggs (beaten)

1 cup milk

1/3 cup brown sugar

1 tablespoon dry mustard

1/2 cup vinegar

Combine meat, crumbs, pepper, eggs and milk.  Mix and form into loaf.  Place in baking pan.  Mix sugar, mustard and vinegar and pour over meat.  Bake in moderate oven.

P.S. Rhonda Fleming sent me the photograph above PERSONALLY, when I got in touch with her to tell her how much I liked her Hollywood Ham Loaf.  I am not kidding!