killer meatloaf

okay, if you've ever had dry, greasy, tasteless, or just plain bad meat loaf raise you hand. no, really raise it. now, if you've ever perpetrated bad meat loaf keep your hand in the air. you know who you are. if you're trying to pretend that your family likes your bad meat loaf, do us all a favor and stop. help me help you. you may now put your hand down and get ready to change meat loaf night forever. first of all this starts at the store. if you've been buying extra lean beef because you think it's better for you, don't. the fat runs off and leaves lovely flavor, also the fat contains water which helps keep you from meat loaf shame. get some nice medium grade ground beef. get yourself a pound and a half of it. now, go get about a pound of bulk sausage. try for N.Y. Sausage Co. Italian, but if you can't find it use breakfast sausage. please please please don't get turkey or chicken. turkey and chicken are good, when used appropriately. they have self-esteem issues however, and need to stop pretending to be meat other than what they are. don't be an enabler of poultry identity crisis, buy pork sausage. now, to assemble. we need one large carrot grated, one half bell pepper minced, one third to half onion minced, and one to two cloves garlic minced. you may, if you are able, put these things into your food processor and grind them to smithereens if you wish, it's all the same to me. you may add, if you wish, one pasilla or jalapeno pepper for a bit of spice. combine the veggies with the meat and about 1/4 cup of plain dried bread crumbs and one egg. mush it all together with your hands until it's mixed evenly and form into a loaf. place in a non greased baking pan (glass for favorites) of the 9 x 13 variety so there is room around the loaf. salt and pepper the top and put in the oven at 350, after it has cooked for one hour cover with foil and cook for another hour. serve with gravy. if your family is the sort that likes the tomato sauce topping, the best variation i have found is one table spoon ketchup, one table spoon Homemade brand sweet chili sauce and one teaspoon brown sugar mixed together and spread on top fifteen minutes before it's done. if you're going the sauce route remove the foil to allow the sauce to glaze. if you don't know how to make gravy, read the next blog.