For Dad, It Was Loaf At First Sight

My parents have very different philosophies about food: my mother is just a few almonds short of being a full-blown health nut, while my dad doesn’t much care beyond “it tastes good” and would probably live off frozen pizza and wings given the chance. I ended up somewhere in the middle; I love cooking, but I like a good salad as much as I do a good burger.

One day, I received a cookbook as a gift from my grandmother. As I thumb through it, I mark down a few recipes that look interesting. One thing I stumble across is something called “cheeseburger meatloaf” that appears to be the author’s attempt at making a Big Mac in brick form.

Naturally, I decide to show this to my mother, purely for her horrified reaction. As expected, she recoils when I show her the picture and recipe.

Mom: “Why would anyone make that? I can feel my arteries atrophy just LOOKING at that thing.”

Dad: “What are you two looking at? Cheeseburger meatloaf?! That sounds good! Honey, can we try that?”

Mom: “No! We’re trying to extend your lifespan, not shorten it!”

I reassured him that if he really wanted to try it, I’d copy the recipe for him, and he could make it. He declined.