Old Fashioned Meatloaf

I'm not sure that homemade meatloaf is my very favorite thing to eat, but it's definitely in my top three.  I have requested it as my birthday meal for years.  This is pretty much the way my mom makes it.  The main difference is she tops it with ketchup, and my glaze is a mixture of ketchup, mustard, and brown sugar.  This is definitely customizable to your own tastes.  If you hate green pepper, leave it out.  Also, you can use whatever meat or combination of meats that you like.  Mom uses ground beef.  This one is a mixture of one lb ground sirloin, one lb ground pork.  I have heard veal is great in a meatloaf, but I haven't tried that one yet.  Maybe next time. 


Old-Fashioned Meatloaf

Ingredients:

2 lbs ground meat of your choice
1 egg, beaten
3/4 cup quick cooking oats
6 oz can tomato paste
1/2 green bell pepper, chopped
1/2 large sweet onion, chopped
3/4 cup + 2 Tbsp ketchup
1/3 cup yellow mustard
1/4 cup brown sugar
salt and pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 350.  In a 13 x 9 inch pan, place first six ingredients, plus the 2 Tbsp of ketchup.

Mix well.  It's easiest to just use your hands. 

Once combined, spread the meat mixture evenly in the pan.

In a mixing bowl, combine remaining ketchup, mustard, and brown sugar.

Spread evenly over meatloaf.

Bake one hour and 15 minutes.  Healthy Tip:  if you remove the entire meatloaf from the pan as soon as you take it out of the oven, you'll be removing it from any grease that cooks out of it.  If you leave it in the pan for even 15 or 20 minutes, the grease will re-absorb into the meat.  Serve with extra ketchup and mashed potatoes.  Leftovers are delicious on a sandwich with ciabatta bread, carmelized onion, and barbeque sauce.  Enjoy!