Macon Magazine

DREAM VERA OFFERS HER STRATEGY FOR BUSINESS SUCCESS. IN THE INTRODUCTION in my book, "The VeryVera Cookbook, Recipes from My Table," I share that the word DREAM has always been part of the journey. I used to dream big and found the creative outlet that provided has kept me excited and energized. In focusing on dreaming and working hard to achieve them, I developed a theory to the word that could benefit the entrepreneurial spirit. D IS FOR DETERMINATION: Recognize what "safety nets" you may have and consider if you would have enough determination to move forward if you didn't have something or someone to fall back on. R IS FOR RESPONSIBILITY: Leading by example, especially in the early stages, will set the foundation for your expectations and growth. And who knows, when the next pandemic hits, maybe you'll know how to do all the jobs yourself. E IS FOR ENERGY: I've tried my best to not let being tired join my vocabulary. We all have our trigger points and I know for sure I need to eat right, go to bed early as much as possible and stay one-step ahead of myself. Losing momentum or being disorganized will definitely make me, dare I say it, tired. A IS FOR ATTITUDE: With a name like VeryVera, I have no choice other than to be happy and VERY at whatever I do. Your name may not be VERY, but your attitude on the positive, upbeat side will be like a billboard to growth, success and a great passion for your work. M IS FOR MANAGEMENT: A well-oiled machine works like a charm and a well-managed company or business can accomplish great things. Look for like-minded staff by having them take a personality test and note the types of personalities that would work in your business plan and culture. A recipe from Vera "WHEN I THINK OF GO-TO WEEKNIGHT MEALS, I think about my freezer," Vera Stewart says. "And my favorite make-ahead dish is this meatloaf. It's my older sister's recipe – she's Bitsy – and it freezes beautifully. It's easy to double, so you can have a little stash ready when you need it, and then you can just do a quick salad, mash a potato, open a can of green beans. That's true comfort food." BITSY'S MEATLOAF Serves 4-6 1 ½ pounds ground beef (80/20 ground chuck recommended) ¼ pound hot pork sausage (Jimmy Dean recommended) 1 cup panko breadcrumbs 1 large egg 1 ½ teaspoons salt ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper 1 medium Vidalia onion, chopped ½ cup marinara sauce 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce For the sauce: ½ cup marinara sauce 2 tablespoons yellow mustard 2 tablespoons dark brown sugar 2 tablespoons white vinegar Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, mix all the meatloaf ingredients together until well incorporated. In a separate bowl, mix together all the sauce ingredients and set aside. Press the meatloaf mixture into an 8-by-4-inch loaf pan. Place in the oven and bake for 45 minutes. Drain the fat and cover with the sauce. Place back in the oven and bake for an additional 5 to 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and let rest for 10 minutes before slicing. VERA AND MARTHA APRIL/MAY 2021 | maconmagazine.com 45

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