meatloaf

there is no way to make the title of this post sound fancier, because meatloaf in and of itself isn't a fancy dish. it is comforting and delicious though, and that's what i was aiming for.

most recipes for meatloaf call for either ketchup or tomato sauce, but this version (my mother's) calls for heinz chili sauce, which is what gives it the zesty flavor that i love. it also helps keep the meatloaf moist, which i think is very important, as some meatloaf tends to be, well, dry. the other unique ingredient in this is lipton soup mix, which adds flavor and little bits of veg, which is nice.

all in all, i think this recipe is both easy and a show-stopper (but then i wouldn't put it up here if it weren't)!

ingredients:
1# ground beef
2 eggs
2 cups panko bread crumbs
1 packet lipton vegetable soup mix (not with the noodles)
1 large onion, finely chopped
1 bottle heinz chili sauce
salt and pepper
olive oil



directions:
preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

heat about 2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium heat and add the finely chopped onions. sprinkle with salt (to speed up the sweating process) and cook until they are glassy, stirring occasionally. remove from heat.

mix the eggs, 1/2 of the bottle of chili sauce, veggie soup mix, and salt and pepper to taste in a large bowl. add the beef and the onions and then one cup of panko. mix together gently with the tips of your fingers, adding more panko as needed until the mixture holds together nicely.

spray a casserole dish with non-stick spray (or olive oil if you have a misto like i do) and then form the beef mixture into a loaf shape (keep it kind of low and flatten it out some - you want a lot of room on the top for later). pop into the oven for 30 minutes. remove from the oven and spread the remaining chili sauce on the top of the meatloaf with the back of a spoon. cook for 15 minutes more, remove, cool slightly (if you can stand it) and serve. enjoy!

notes:
i guess every family has a recipe for meatlof (i find myself saying that about almost everything i cook) but i think this is an good variation if you are up for something different. i've never substituted turkey for this, but i suppose you could. if you do, i would recommend not cooking the onions beforehand, and would grate them instead of chopping them.