Growing up meant Meatloaf on Mondays. I had not made it in years, but am taking a healthier attitude this year in what I eat, which means eat less processed food, and stop picking up junk at a drive-through on the way home.

I don’t know why Meatloaf gets a bum rap, as it is considered a staple in most American homes.  May not be elegant, certainly isn’t gourmet, but it has great texture, a ton of flavor and is easy on the wallet. One thing it doesn’t have?  Great looks.  Although it looks good on the plate when I serve it, it doesn’t photograph so well, but then what brown food does? Okay, chocolate is brown and photographs really, really, really well – but meatloaf, not so much!

~~  Add everything but the kitchen sink in a bowl – use your hands – work it!

 

 

 

 

~~  Meatloaf goes into loaf pan – pat it into shape and add tomato sauce on top.

 

 

Ingredients:

1 pound ground sirloin beef (less than 5% fat)

1 pound ground pork

1 yellow onion, diced

2 cloves garlic, finely minced

2 eggs

1/2 cup Panko bread crumbs

2 tsp. Italian seasoning

2 tsp Worcestershire sauce

1 Tbl. chili-garlic sauce (Asian section of store)

1 small can tomato sauce

1 Tbl. parsley, finely chopped

Kosher salt

 

Method:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees

• Using a non-stick frying pan, add olive oil to pan and sauté both the diced onion, and the minced garlic.   Saute until translucent and remove from heat – cool for a few minutes.
• Take a medium-size bowl, add sirloin, pork, sautéed onion, eggs, seasonings, Worcestershire sauce, Panko, parsley, chili garlic sauce, and 1/2 can of the tomato sauce.  Mix well with a wooden spoon, or better yet, wash your hands again and dig right in.
• After well mixed add it to a loaf pan and pour remaining tomato sauce on top of the meatloaf and place in oven.  Cook for one hour.
• When the meatloaf is at the halfway point (30 minutes), take it out and pour off grease.  Back into oven for another 30 minutes.
• It’s done – add to platter and surround with Crispy Potato Boats, or roasted red potatoes.

I am trying to cut-down on eating bread, but if I wasn’t in a “no bread for me” mode, I would take a meatloaf sandwich to work the next day – Yum!

Yield: Serves 6-8 depending on size of slices