Hearty Meatloaf With A Zip

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 cup chopped onion
• 1/2 cup chopped celery
• 1/2 cup chopped green pepper
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
• 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 2 - 2 1/2 pounds ground beef
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/4 cup ketchup
• 1 1/2 teaspoons spicy brown mustard
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce (Heinz 57 or A1 Steak Sauce)
• 2/3 cup cracker crumbs

Glaze

• 1/2 cup ketchup
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce (Heinz 57 or A1 Steak Sauce)
• 2 tablespoons medium salsa
• 1 tablespoon red pepper flakes

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 F.  Heat vegetable oil in skillet over medium heat.  Add onion, celery, green pepper, salt, thyme, and black pepper.  Cook, stirring until the vegetables are tender and onions are semi translucent, approximately 6 minutes.  Remove from heat and set aside to cool.

In a medium mixing bowl, wisk together eggs, milk, ketchup, mustard, and Worcestershire sauce.

Add ground beef, vegetables, and bread crumbs and mix all together with your hands.

Place the mixture into a 9 x 5 loaf pan using your hands to form a rounded loaf type top.

To make the glaze, combine the ketchup, brown sugar, Worcestershire and salsa in a small bowl.  Whisk to mix and spread evenly over the meatloaf.

Bake for about an hour and 15 minutes.

~ This is one hearty meatloaf with a tangy zip .. better than just plain old ketchup and bacon topped meatloaf,  like mom used to make! ~