How Do You Do Your Meat Loaf?

Like comfort food? Plent of flavor? Just spicy enough? Not too hot? This is perfect for the long weekend. What's better than a meatloaf sandwich! My husband and kids say "nothing."

Everyone makes a meatloaf. This is my very favorite recipe, it's not too many flavors for kids, but it stands up to hearty with a smile!

Groans and moans make this a sexy dish for two, if you like leftovers, and what's not sexy about that?

I've included hot mashed potatoes, flavored with wasabi, but don't serve it to the kiddos...

Your Best Meatloaf, Ever!

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 lb ground chuck
• 1/2 lb ground pork
• 1 generous cup FRESH bread crumbs, your favorite bread, crumbled fine
• 1/3 cup half and half
• 2 eggs, beaten slightly
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter for sauteing
• 1 cup finely chopped onion
• 1 cup button mushrooms, chopped fine
• 1/2 cup celery, chopped fine
• 1/2 cup grated carrot or chopped carrot matchsticks (grated preferred)
• 1/2 tsp dried thyme
• 1 tsp garlic, minced
• 1 1/2 tsp kosher salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper, coarsely ground
• 4 slices bacon, fried crisp, drained and broken up into tiny pieces, bites of fat discarded
• 1/3 cup ketchup (good brand)
• 2 tablespoon brown sugar
• 2 tsp cider vinegar

Procedure:

1. Preheat oven to 375F.
2. Soak bread crumbs in half and half until crumbs are moistened. Add in beaten eggs, stir.
3. Heat large skillet and melt the butter to foaming. Add onions, celery, mushrooms and season with salt and pepper. Cook about 2 - 3 minutes but do not brown onions.
4. Add thyme over mixture. Add garlic and a pinch of salt. Stir.
5. Cook until onions are clear, add grated carrots. Remove from heat and allow to cool.
6. In separate mixing bowl, add meats, bacon, cooled onions and vegetables and bread crumb mixture. Add 1 1/2 teaspoon salt and pepper. Mix well but do not overmix.
7. Prepare a rectangle loaf shaped but shallow baking dish with cooking spray. Press meat loaf into pan. Make shallow indention around sides, not pressing meatloaf into the sides.
8. For topping, combine ketchup, brown sugar, and vinegar. Spread over top of meat loaf.
   Bake on middle rack for 1 hour or until meat is at a 155F internal temperature.
9. Remove and let rest 12 minutes before slicing. (Drain off fat.)

Serves 6 hungry people. If you have leftovers, freeze by wrapping tightly, or refrigerate carefully wrapped meatloaf for sandwiches.

Wasabi Mashed Potatoes

Make at your own risk! Make your own mashed potatoes and add 1 tsp (or more) of wasabi sauce. It's the green sauce in a jar on the ketchup aisle of the grocers. If you don't think the wasabi is for you... try mashing up some frozen green peas in your hot potatoes. Don't pre-cook the frozen peas, just thaw them, mash 'em, and add to the mashed potatoes while everything is steaming! Increase the butter, but is there ever enough butter in the potatoes?

Me and Paula Deen say no.