Not My Mama's Meatloaf

My mom can cook just about anything--and well!  Except for meatloaf.  Other members of our family like it, but I don't {sorry, Mom...}  I went a good 20+ years without eating anyone's meatloaf.  Not at home, in college, or at a restaurant.  I was scarred.  Then I meet O, and what is his favorite meal?!  You guessed it.  Meatloaf.  I was able to get around actually making it for him until after we got married, but I knew I couldn't forever.  I like meatballs, why do I all not like it in loaf form?  After a little thinking and some Google research, I tweaked my meatball recipe and came up with the only meatloaf recipe I'll ever make {and LOVE!}

Meatloaf

ingredients:

1 tbsp vegetable oil

1 small onion {minced in a food processor, super fine} 

1 clove of garlic, minced

1/3 cup of milk

1 egg

1/4 cup ketchup

1/2 cup finely crushed Ritz Crackers*

1 tbsp McCormick's Meat Loaf Seasoning {in packet}

1 pound of ground beef

1 pound of ground sausage

topping:

1/2 cup ketchup

2 tbsp. brown sugar

1/4 tsp. garlic powder

Heat the oil and cook onion for about five minutes, until soft.  Add garlic and cook for one more minute; set aside.  In a bowl, combine milk, egg and ketchup.  Add in cracker crumbs.  Crumble in both the ground beef and ground sausage along with the onion & garlic.  Mix well {your hands are the best tools for this, even though I'm thoroughly grossed out every time I do this...}

Shape into a loaf on a foil lined baking sheet.  Bake at 350 for 1 hour.  Mix together the topping and pour half over the meatloaf the last half hour of baking.  I always save some to serve along with the meatloaf and mashed potatoes!

This makes one very large meatloaf.  I usually divide it in half, and shape into two loaves.  I'll freeze one for a later date.  All you have to do is wrap it in plastic wrap and foil and store in a freezer bag.  When you want to use it, thaw in the fridge & bake as directed, above.

*you can substitute bread crumbs.  I think the Ritz Cracker crumbs give a good, buttery flavor to the meatloaf.