The Three Pound Meatloaf

Everyone has an opinion about meatloaf. You either love it or you just don't care for it. I fall into the former category.

With the weather cooling down and the arrival of Fall comfort food is on the minds and menus of most everybody, and in my opinion meatloaf is one of the best comfort foods available (unless you fall into the later category.)

With this in mind, I am posting the following original recipe for my "Three Pound Meatloaf." I hope you enjoy it.

Glenn "Papa" Ervin

The Three Pound Meatloaf

Ingredients

1 lb ground chuck or ground round

1 lb ground pork

1 lb ground chicken or ground turkey

1 medium green bell pepper, cored, seeded and finely chopped

1 small white onion, peeled and finely chopped

2 eggs

1/2 cup milk

1/4 lb (1 sleeve) saltine crackers, finely crushed

One 15-oz can tomato sauce seasoned for meatloaf

1 Tbsp butter

1 package meatloaf seasoning

Garlic salt, to taste

Directions

1. Heat oven to 400. Sauté vegetables in butter over medium-high heat until crisp-tender. Add garlic salt to taste. Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly.
2. Meanwhile, reserving 1/2 of the tomato sauce; combine remaining ingredients in a large bowl. Add sautéed vegetables; mix all ingredients well.
3. Spray an 8 x 11.5 x 3” baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Transfer meat mixture to prepared dish. Press mixture into bottom of dish so that the dish is filled to edges.
4. Place dish on a baking sheet and bake for 1 hour; drain. Spread the reserved tomato sauce evenly over the top of the meatloaf and bake for an additional 10 minutes. Remove from oven and let stand for 10 minutes before slicing.