Meat Loaf(ing)

Ingredients

• 1 cup bread crumbs — I used Progresso Garlic & Herb but you can use any kind really.
• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon paprika
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 celery stalk, finely chopped
• 1  carrot, finely chopped
• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 1 lb ground beef chuck
• 1 lb  ground pork
• 1 large egg

Preheat oven to 350°F with rack in middle.

In a small bowl, combine ground black pepper, paprika, chili powder, garlic and Worcestershire sauce. Add egg and mix until well blended.

The meat, hanging out and waiting its turn for attention.

In a large bowl, gently mix the pork and beef chuck together. I like to wear gloves for such a messy task. Once the meat is slightly mixed, add the bread crumbs, carrots, onion and celery.

Pour in your bowl of magical goodness.

Mix well but don’t squeeze it all together too hard.

In a shallow baking dish, form the meat into a loaf.

Put into the oven and let it do its thing for 1 hour to 1 hour and 15 minutes.

I scrubbed and cut up 4 russet potatoes. I tossed them with olive oil, sea salt, cracked black pepper and dried parsley flakes. They went into the oven with the meat loaf.

It was more bland than our usual dishes. I think next time I will kick it up a notch and add some red chili flakes, fresh basil, oregano and thyme.