Tuesday Tidbits: PLEASE PASS THE MEATLOAF

I research a lot of things I never imagined learning. Some times, it’s because I need that information for a story I’m writing. Other times, it’s because I stumble across something while researching something else.

I was writing along in the story I was currently working at the time and needed to know a tidbit of info. Back when I first started writing novels, research was hard and slow and heavy. Why heavy? Because I had to check out a ton of books from the library and sift through them and hope I found the information I needed. Many times I did not. Sigh.

So what did I need to know? You probably guessed it from the title. I needed to know if my character could have a meatloaf sandwich in her memory from 1920. Low and behold, meatloaf was around from Roman times. Their recipe in the cookbook Apicius was a combination of chopped meat, bread, and wine. (Apicius is an example of discovering something while researching something else.)

American meatloaf, as we think of it, dates back to the 1870s when a manufacturing company of a newly invented meat grinder offered recipes to go with their new device.

Meatloaf gained popularity during the 1930’s Depression. World War II rationing of the 1940s gave rise to  meat-free loaf. Say what? How can you have meatloaf without meat? Wouldn’t it just be loaf? What did they use in place of the meat? (I did a super-quick search but couldn’t find a recipe to learn what the mystery-meat substitute was. Perhaps they used mashed beans?)

Cooks got creative with adding seasonings and other ingredients to liven up this mealtime staple. Things like mustard, catsup, bacon, ground pork, and even meatloaf mixes. Creativity rose to the point where fancy restaurants made high-end versions to serve.

I’ve learned more about meatloaf than I ever imagined. It’s these little details that I feel bring a story to life. I could have simply said “sandwich”, but by being specific, the reader can more easily taste the food. I can almost smell the meatloaf my mom used to make. Mmm.

***COMING FEBRUARY 2022!***

MRS. WITHERSPOON GOES TO WAR (Heroines of WWII series)

A WASP (Women Airforce Service Pilots) flies a secret mission to rescue three soldiers held captive in Cuba.

Margaret “Peggy” Witherspoon is a thirty-four-year-old widow, mother of two daughters, an excellent pilot, and very patriotic. She joins the WASP (Women Airforce Service Pilots). As she performs various tasks like ferry aircraft, transporting cargo, and being an airplane mechanic, she meets and develops feelings for her supervisor Army Air Corp Major Howie Berg. When Peggy learns of U.S. soldiers being held captive in Cuba, she, Major Berg, and two fellow WASPs devise an unsanctioned mission to rescue them. With Cuba being an ally in the war, they must be careful not to ignite an international incident.

  Pre-Order HERE!

MARY DAVIS, bestselling, award-winning novelist, has over thirty titles in both historical and contemporary themes. Her latest release is THE DÉBUTANTE'S SECRET (Quilting Circle Book 4) THE DAMSEL’S INTENT (The Quilting Circle Book 3) is a Selah Award Winner. Some of her other recent titles include; The Widow’s Plight, The Daughter's Predicament, “Zola’s Cross-Country Adventure” in The MISSAdventure Brides Collection , Prodigal Daughters Amish series, "Holly and Ivy" in A Bouquet of Brides Collection, and "Bygones" in Thimbles and Threads. She is a member of ACFW and active in critique groups.

Mary lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband of thirty-seven years and one cat. She has three adult children and three incredibly adorable grandchildren. Find her online at:

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