Perfect Meatloaf By Susan Food

THE BEST MEATLOAF

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease an 8 1/2 x 4 1/2 inch loaf pan.
• Combine milk and soft bread crumbs in a small bowl and allow to soften, about 5 minutes.
• In a mixing bowl, combine the ground beef, salt, pepper, egg, 3 tablespoons steak sauce, chopped onion, and green bell pepper. Add bread crumb mixture, and mix with your hands until all ingredients are combined.
• Pat the the mixture into the prepared loaf pan. Brush the top with additional steak sauce.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 1 hour or until done. Allow to stand 5 minutes before slicing.

THE PERFECT MEATLOAF

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Pour milk over the bread slices. Allow it to soak in for several minutes.
• Place the ground beef, milk-soaked bread, salt, and black pepper in a large mixing bowl. Add in your beaten eggs.
• USE YOUR HANDS and git in there, mix it up well.
• Form into a log. Hint: don't "smoosh" it down to tight, that just compacts the meat and tends to make for a dense er heavy meatloaf. I honest and truly believe THIS step was the defining factor in the most juiciest meatloaf I have ever eaten.
• Lay bacon slices across the top, width wise, tucking the ends underneath the meatloaf.
• Spread a good amount of sauce onto your loaf, leaving a little for your second application later in cooking process.
• Bake for 45 minutes, then slather the rest of the sauce over the top.
• Bake for 15 more minutes or so, you can raise oven temperature to 400 after the second application,.

THE BEST MEATLOAF I'VE EVER MADE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Melt the butter in a skillet over medium heat, and cook the onion and garlic 5 minutes, until onion is tender. Remove from heat, and season with salt and pepper.
• In a large bowl, mix the onion and garlic, beef, crumbled bread, crushed crackers, egg, sour cream, Worcestershire sauce, and 1/2 can tomato sauce. Gradually stir in the milk 1 teaspoon at a time until mixture is moist, but not soggy. Transfer the mixture to a 5x9 inch loaf pan.
• Bake uncovered in the preheated oven 40 minutes. Increase oven temperature to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C), and continue baking 15 minutes, to an internal temperature of 160 degrees F (70 degrees C).
• In a small bowl, mix the remaining tomato sauce and ketchup. Pour over the top of the meatloaf, and continue baking 10 minutes.

SUZANNE RAFER'S SELF-GRAVYING MEATLOAF

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Place the meat in a large mixing bowl. Flatten it slightly. Beat the egg and the egg white in a small bowl. Add the garlic, bread crumbs and salt and stir to combine. Pour the egg mixture over the meat, then use your hands to knead the mixture until it is well blended. Form the meat into a loaf shape, about 8 by 4 by 2 1/2 inches.
• Heat the oil in a large heavy pot over medium heat. Add the meatloaf and brown for 3 to 4 minutes. Gently turn to brown the other side, an additional 3 to 4 minutes. Once browned, slide a spatula under the loaf to make sure it has not stuck to the bottom of the pan. If it has, loosen it and scrape up any bits of meat that are stuck.
• Pour the ketchup over the top and down the sides of the meatloaf. Pour the broth around the meatloaf and stir with a fork to combine with the ketchup. Add the pickling spices and place 1 bay leaf on each side of the loaf. Bring the broth to a boil. Cover the pot and place it in the oven. Bake until the meat loaf is firm, about one hour.
• Remove the meatloaf from the oven, remove the bay leaves and the spice bag, cool and refrigerate over night. About 40 minutes before serving, remove the meatloaf from the refrigerator, lift the layer of fat from the top of the gravy and place the pot, covered, over medium-low heat to warm, about 20 minutes. Add additional cold water if the gravy seems too skimpy. Serve in 1-inch slices with mashed potatoes.

SUSAN'S SWEET AND TANGY MEATLOAF

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, bread crumbs, egg, garlic, worcestershire, crushed red pepper, salt and pepper. Mix well and place into a 9x5 inch loaf pan.
• Bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile. in a separate medium bowl, stir together the ketchup, brown sugar and apricot preserves and pour over the meatloaf.
• Bake another 20 minutes.