Meat loaf is one of my comfort foods. My mother used to make a variation of this recipe when I was growing up, and I made it for my children when they were growing up. Give it a try.
- 2 pounds ground beef
- ½ cup cracker crumbs (I use Ritz Crackers)
- ½ cup diced onion (I sauté mine, but you can use them raw)
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley chopped (you can use dry flakes)
- 2 tablespoons prepared mustard
- 1 teaspoons salt
- ¼ teaspoon fresh ground pepper
- 2 eggs (beaten)
- ¼ cup milk
- ½ cup ketchup
- 1 teaspoon prepared mustard
- 3 tablespoons brown sugar
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- 1-2 teaspoons prepared horseradish, optional
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees, and grease a loaf pan.
- Combine the beaten eggs with the milk, and stir well. Then put all ingredients into a large bowl, and mix thoroughly.
- Put meat mixture into prepared loaf pan, and bake at 350 degrees for 1 ½ to 2 hours.
- While meat loaf is baking prepare sauce by stirring together all ingredients.
- For the last 30 minutes of baking, glaze the loaf with the sauce.
- I usually make extra sauce so that my family can add more as desired.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F, and grease a loaf pan. My pan measures 22 x 11 x 6 cm. (approximately 8.5 x 4.5 x 3 inches)
Make cracker crumbs by crushing 8-10 crackers in a bag to make:
1/2 cup cracker crumbs
Here are two optional items.
1. Saute your onions and let them cool, or just put them in raw.
2. Chop some fresh parsley, or just use dry.
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together:
2 eggs
¼ cup milk
Add:
2 pounds ground beef
½ cup cracker crumbs
½ cup diced onion
2 tablespoons fresh parsley
2 tablespoons prepared mustard
1 teaspoons salt
¼ teaspoon fresh ground pepper
Mix well. For best results, I use my hands.
Press the mixture into the prepared pan, and bake at 350 degrees for 90 minutes.
While it’s baking, prepare the sauce.
In a small mixing bowl, mix the following:
½ cup ketchup
1 teaspoon prepared mustard
3 tablespoons brown sugar
¼ teaspoon nutmeg
Tip: If you warm the ketchup a little bit, it will help the sugar dissolve, and your sauce will be smoother.
If you want a little extra kick in your sauce, add:
1-2 teaspoons prepared horseradish.
Mix until completely smooth.
Remove meat loaf from oven, and spread with sauce. Return to oven for another 20-30 minutes.
Allow to rest for 10 minutes, then …
… transfer to a serving plate.
Slice, and …
… serve.
Be sure to make some extra sauce to serve with it.
By the way ~ Leftover meatloaf makes delicious sandwiches. We heat it up, put it on a bun in place of a hamburger patty, and call it a “meatloaf~urger.” It’s a mouthful, but it’s delicious. I don’t like cooking hamburgers inside, so sometimes, when the weather isn’t cooperating for grilling, I make a meatloaf just for meatloaf~urgers. I leave the sauce off when I do that.
I actually think I might like them better than hamburgers. Try it. You’ll love it, and you’ll want to thank me. So … You’re welcome!