Meatloaf

 Even people who don't like meatloaf often like mine. It has a few ingredients that most don't include, but it's super easy to make. 

I start by prepping the pans. I use two glass bread pans (4.5 x 8.5 inches or 5 x 9 inches), but you can use any type of bread pan, or make it in a square pan if you prefer. This recipe makes two loaf-shaped meatloafs (or is it meatloaves?). To prep the pans, I line them with tin foil. I find this makes it easier to take them out when they're done. If you don't like the pans with tin foil, grease them so the meatloaf doesn't stick to the pan.

 

In a large mixing bowl, combine the following (adding these together first makes it easier to stir the rest of the ingredients):

3 slices of bread (pick whatever you want or have - ends of bread loaves are great for this), crumbled into little pieces

1 cup milk 

 

Mix in:

2 eggs

2 lbs ground beef

1 lb sausage (I like Jimmy Dean's regular breakfast sausage, but you could also use Italian sausage or even sage sausage if you prefer the taste - I prefer to buy it without it in sausage shapes, but if you have ones already in the sausage casings, cut the casing and take the sausage meat out of the casing)

1/2 cup of shredded cheese (the original recipe calls for shredded carrots - I prefer cheese)

 

Season with about:

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon salt 

1 teaspoon Italian seasoning

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

 

I also usually add the following - you can use some or all of these or add in other seasoning you know you like:

A splash of Worcestershire sauce

A bit of ketchup

1 teaspoon dry mustard powder 

 

Divide the mixture in half and fill the bread pans with it. Top each loaf with:

Two slices of bacon

Ketchup (I just make wiggly lines of ketchup across the top)

 

Bake at 350 degrees for 60 minutes.

 

Remove from the oven and drain the grease/juice/drippings from each meatloaf into a saucepan to make the gravy. Add the following to the saucepan with the drippings:

1 can beef consumme

2 Tablespoons white flour (or cornstarch) 

 Heat over medium-low heat until it thickens.

 

I usually serve this with mashed potatoes, green beans, and biscuits.