Making Meatloaf

I’ve been making this for a while now and we really enjoy it. In fact, it was what I made for dinner on Monday night!

Meatloaf!

2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 cup chopped yellow onion
1/2 cup chopped celery
1/2 cup chopped green bell 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
1 1/2 pounds ground beef
1/2 pound ground pork
1/2 pound ground veal
2 eggs (used egg beaters)
1/4 cup ketchup
2 teaspoons Spice Mix, recipe follows
1 1/2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
2/3 cup fine dried bread crumbs

Spice Mix Recipe
(save the rest in airtight container.)
3 tablespoons paprika
2 tablespoons salt
2 tablespoons dried parsley
2 teaspoons onion powder
2 teaspoons garlic powder
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon celery salt

Position rack in center of oven and preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Heat the vegetable oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the onion, celery, bell pepper, garlic, salt, basil, thyme, and black pepper. Cook, stirring, until the onions are soft and lightly golden, about 6 minutes. Remove from the heat and set aside to cool.

In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground beef, pork, and veal with a wooden spoon or with clean hands. Be sure to wash up afterward.

In a medium mixing bowl, combine the eggs, ketchup, Spice Mix, Dijon mustard, and Worcestershire sauce, and whisk to combine. Add the egg mixture to the meat mixture along with the cooled vegetables and bread crumbs. Mix with your hands or a wooden spoon until thoroughly combined.

Transfer the mixture to a 9 by 5 by 3-inch loaf pan. Using your fingers or the back of the wooden spoon, smooth the top into a rounded loaf shape. Wash hands again.

Place strips of bacon on the top.

Bake the meatloaf for 1 hour and 15 minutes.