Friend of Julie: Meatloaf

Meatloaf is another staple for me. It's quick to make and cooks in 30-40 minutes. I like meatballs more, but meatloaf is a lot less work and cooking time.

If I'm really hungry and I don't feel like waiting 45 minutes for dinner, sometimes I pull enough of the beef to make a hamburger while the meatloaf is cooking and then I have the meatloaf for lunch the next day.

Ingredients

• one pound of beef
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 1/2 cup chopped celery
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1/4 cup bread crumbs (I use Progresso Italian) 
• spices you like (garlic, salt, pepper. etc.)

Process

1. Mix all ingredients with your hands in a bowl until well blended.
2. Place into a baking pan (I use a standard size bread pan)
3. Flatten top of meatloaf with the tines of a fork (optional)
4. Bake in preheated oven for about 40 minutes until cooked as desired.

Optional: Serve with catsup or add your favorite tomato sauce to the top and bottom before cooking the meatloaf.

I also have small loaf pans that I sometimes use to make single servings, this way they are ready to fit into my lunch container.

Meatloaf makes about 4 servings