Meatloaf

Basic Meatloaf

Preheat oven to 325f
2 LB.s of ground meat- a mix of three is good, veal, pork* and beef
2 Slices of bread
1/2 Large Onion
2 small carrots
1/2 Cup Milk
1 Egg
1 TBL Salt
1 TBL Smoked Paprika
2 Tsp garlic powder
fresh ground pepper to taste
Ketchup for top of meatloaf

Put bread in food processor to make fresh breadcrumbs and put in large mixing bowl
Add spices and mix in with crumbs
Mix egg and milk together and add to breadcrumbs mixture
Chop carrots and onion in processor separately and add to bowl
Add meat and gently mix until all ingredients are well combined
Form into a loaf on a sheet tray or roasting pan
Bake for 15 minutes, then remove and brush top with ketchup and replace in oven
Bake another 45 minutes and check temperature, continue cooking until internal temperature is 165f

For a Middle Eastern flavor use beef and lamb
Add 1/2 cup of crumbles feta and 2tsp dry thyme

For Asian flavor
Use a mix of ground chicken and ground turkey
Add 1 small can of chopped water chestnuts
Put 4 scallions, a 1/2″ piece of ginger and 2 fresh garlic cloves into food processor and use that instead of carrots and onion
Omit dry spices from basic loaf
Add 2 TBL mirin, 2 TBL soy sauce and 1 TBL toasted sesame oil to meat mixture
Brush with hoisin sauce

For Italian Flavor
Add dry or oregano and 1 cup of chopped mushrooms
Add 1/2 Cup Grated parmesean cheese

*be wary of packaged ground pork, a lot of it contains a preservative solution
Try to get meat ground in store, it is freshest