At Long Last

Here I am again after a month long hiatus... no excuses, just seemed to get caught up with other things around the house.

I've brought you a tasty recipe though, so with any luck you'll forgive my disappearance! It's moist, it's flavorful, it's filling and it's certainly meaty!

Mama-Mia Meatloaf

6 slices bread

1c milk

2 lbs ground beef

1 cup parmesan cheese

1 tsp seasoning salt

1/2 tsp black pepper

1/2 tsp basil

1/2 tsp thyme

4 eggs

10 slices of bacon (about 1/2 package - save the rest for breakfast!)

Start by ripping your bread slices up into a bowl and pouring the milk over the top. Let soak while you prepare the meat mixture.

Also preheat your oven to 350 degrees.

Combine your seasonings into a bowl (parmesan, seasoning salt, pepper, basil and thyme).

Now dump in your ground beef and eggs as well as your bowl with the bread and milk. Mix well with your hands until everything is fully incorporated. You'll need to break up the bread a bit as you mix.

Now form your mixture into a loaf-like mass on a baking sheet. Cover with the strips of bacon, tucking the ends underneath the loaf.

It's time for the sauce:
1.5 cups ketchup
1/3 c brown sugar
1 tsp dry mustard

tabasco (add as much as you like depending on your spice preference)

Stir ingredients together.

Using about 1/3 of the sauce mixture, spread over the meatloaf evenly.

Bake for 45 minutes.

At 45 minutes remove the meatloaf from the oven and cover with another 1/3 of the sauce mixture. Continue baking for 20 minutes.

When it's done it will be nice and browned up.

Let rest 5-10 minutes. Slice and serve hot - preferably with mashed potatoes! Use the remainder of the sauce mixture for dipping.

PS - the end pieces are the best!

Source: Adapted from The Pioneer Woman.

Until next time...!