The new year is coming Saturday, and for the past few years, people have wondered what will happen. Will the power go out? If so, will we be ready to meet the challenges that may come without heat and power — and who knows what else? Just the other day I decided to light up the fire in the fireplace and see if I could create a meal without a gas or electric range.

Meatloaf in an Onion Recipe

 To my delight, I found that I could, and I had so much fun that I decided to invite some friends over the share in the fun.One of my all-time favorite recipes to cook on hot coals is Meatloaf in an Onion.

Ingredients (per person):

• ¼ lb seasoned hamburger
• 1 large onion (softball-sized)
• Heavy-duty foil

To make the Meatloaf in an Onion, cut the root end off the onion and peel the outside layer. Cut the onion in half and push half of the middle layers out. (Save the center of the onion to use in other cooking.)

Now fill one onion half with seasoned hamburger. (Some like to prepare the meat mixture as if they were making a traditional meatloaf.) Put the two onion halves back together and center on a piece of heavy-duty foil, about 12 x 15 inches. Wrap it up using the “drugstore wrap” method by bringing up both ends of the foil and folding them down in small folds. Wrap the remaining foil around the onion.

Now that it is ready, place the foil packet on a bed of hot coals and let it cook about 15 minutes on each side. (When using a conventional oven, you can place the packet in a baking dish, cooking it at 350 degrees for one hour.)

Serve with a green salad and a banana boat (recipe below), and you have a perfectly easy, perfectly delicious lunch or dinner.

Banana Boat Dessert

 While the meatloaf is cooking, I like to show guests how to make the dessert.

A banana boat is made by cutting a slit down the center of a banana. Spread open the halves and fill the split banana with milk chocolate chips and miniature marshmallows. Then wrap the boat in a piece of foil and place on the coals for 5 minutes, or until the chocolate melts down the center and the marshmallows puff up. Take care not to overcook, as the banana will end up runny.

One of the advantages of a simple meal like this one is that you can show your guests how to make the main course and dessert, and they can then make their own. It is part of the fun and part of the dining experience.