COOKING IN THE DARK WITH COCHRAN & CHRISTIE

German cockroach babies emerging from an egg

Cochran has been pretty "cocky" this week, bragging about how the cockroach and a relative (the waterbug) have been on the top 10 list of fathers in the animal world.  Wood-eating cockroaches will use this material to build nests and find food for their larvae - this is pretty unusual in the insect world.  Cockroach fathers will even eat bird droppings to obtain nitrogen (a necessary part of their diet) and carry it back to their young.  They're also tidy parents, sweeping up fungus and dead cockroaches to protect their families from infection.  Did you know cockroaches were so clean and tidy?!!

The male waterbug is totally responsible for the eggs after the female glues them to his back, which can be up to 150 or more eggs - talk about back-breaking work!  He strokes the eggs to clean them, he will sit at the water's surface to dry them off to prevent mold and get rid of parasites, and he often moves around to escape predators.  This fellow is quite a superdad, or should I say superbug.

He looks like he's been dedazzled!

Well, crickets may not have made the top 10 fathers list, but Jiminy Cricket is sure a smart little guy!  Let's watch Jiminy teach Pinocchio how to whistle in Give A Little Whistle!

Speaking of top 10 lists, our dish tonight is on the list of top 10 comfort foods.  Most dads just love (and sometimes love to deny) the humble meatloaf.  Meatloaf with mashed potatoes and green beans or meatloaf with macaroni and cheese is a winning meal!  What's even better is meatloaf sandwiches the next day (using sourdough bread or a hearty white with sliced cheese on top)!

BUNNY'S MEATLOAF

2 lbs. lean ground beef (at least 93% lean)

1 onion, chopped fine

1 green pepper, chopped fine

1/2 cup ketchup

1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce

1 egg, lightly beaten

1 cup quick oats

1/2 tsp. thyme

1/2 tsp. garlic

1/4 tsp. black pepper

Preheat oven to 350.  Combine all the ingredients in a large bowl.  Shape into a loaf on a baking sheet, sprinkle top with more black pepper, and bake for one hour.  Spread top of loaf with ketchup and let cool for 10 minutes before slicing. 

ENJOY!