Meatloaf

I'm a finicky meat loaf kind of a gal. This one has always been a favorite of mine. It's not overly greasy and is really moist and super flavorful. I would compare it to an over sized meatball... in the shape of a loaf!

I served this with oven roasted Fingerling potatoes and baked carrot fries. A perfect meal for a crisp fall night!

Ingredients:

1 1/2 pounds of ground beef
1/2 pound ground pork
1/2 cup diced onion
2 cups bread crumbs
2 beaten eggs

1/2 cup canned tomatoes

1/2 cup diced celery

2 1/2 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. pepper

4 tbs. Dijon mustard

1/2 cup of ketchup

2 tsp Worcestershire sauce

Directions:

Combine all ingredients. Mix thoroughly with hands. Turn on to a well greased loaf pan. Bake at 375 degrees for one hour. Place sauce on top of the meatloaf and return to oven for 15 minutes more. Unmold and place onto a serving dish.

While the meatloaf is baking mix together ketchup, 2 tbs of mustard and Worcestershire sauce. (You may want to double this mixtures -- My kids love to add extra sauce to their meatloaf.)

I often double this recipe and toss my extra loaf directly into the freezer for a future meal.

My Mother's Meatloaf

I loved meatloaf as a child and I loved getting my hands dirty and helping Mom make it! I am posting this, as well as a couple of other recipes, for my busy friends with busy active children who do not have the time to prepare a proper meal at the end of a long day. When you get home from a late game or practice the last thing you want to do is cook. The beauty of this dish is that it can be prepared in advance, frozen or refrigerated for a couple of days then tossed into the oven. (If frozen, remove meatloaf from freezer in the morning so there is adequate time to thaw.)

Ingredients:

1 1/2 lbs ground beef
1/2 lb ground pork
1/2 cup diced onion
2 cups (8oz.) bread crumbs
2 beaten eggs
1/2 can canned tomatoes
1/2 cup diced celery
2 1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1 tsp dry mustard
2 tbs. horseradish(I have made w/out using the horseradish and it still tastes great)
Ketchup
Worcestershire sauce

Preheat oven to 375 degrees

In a large bowl combine all ingredients; mix thoroughly with hands. (If working with children be sure they wash their hands very well after mixing!) Turn into a well-greased loaf pan and bake for one hour.

*Topping:

1/2 Ketchup, 1tsp Worcestershire sauce -- pour over the meatloaf and bake another 15 minutes -- I usually double the recipe for the topping and use as a dipping sauce.

This dish goes well with carrot fries and mashed potatoes!