Old School Meatloaf

The year was 1977 and Meatloaf was king.  No, I'm not talking about the rock opera star, I'm talking about the tasty hunk of meat topped with tomato sauce baking in the oven.  That's right, meatloaf.  Growing up, my mother and grandmother both made meatloaf at least once every two weeks.  Why?  It was cheap, easy, tasted good, and made plenty of leftovers for lunches to take to school or work.

However, in the modern world of fast food and even faster lives, no one takes the time to make the classic dishes we grew up on.  The classic dinner of meatloaf, potatoes, green beans, carrots, and rolls has been replaced by the trip through the drive-thru.  (Would you like to Super-size that combo?  You will get six Monopoly pieces instead of four.)  Well, I say forget that.  In the same time it takes to decide on a place to go, drive there, order, and get back; you can have a tasty meatloaf in the oven baking.  And once it's in the oven, the hard part is over.  Throw in a few potatoes wrapped in aluminum foil and you have will have meatloaf and baked potatoes in an hour.  Just heat up a vegetable (I decided to splurge and make a baked vegetable casserole too) and you have a full meal that will take you back to your childhood.  So crank up the oven, mix up some meatloaf, gather the kids together to watch a couple episodes of The Wonder Years (now  available on Netflix), and relive the glory days of your childhood.  Or Kevin's.

Classic Meatloaf
1 lb ground beef
1 lb ground turkey
1 lb breakfast sausage
1 onion, diced
1 green pepper, diced
2 eggs
2 packets instant oats (1 oz each)
1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
3/4 cup ketchup
1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
1 Tbsp mustard


Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.  Place beef, turkey, sausage, onion, green pepper, eggs, oats, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and black pepper in large mixing bowl.  Using hands, mix all ingredients together until well blended.  (This step is a lot easier if you let the meats set at room temperature for 30 minutes prior to mixing.)

Shape meat mixture into loaf shape and place in 7x11 or 9x13 inch baking dish.  Add 1/2 cup water to pan.  Bake at 375 degrees for 1 hour or until temperature registers 155 degrees on instant read thermometer.  Drain grease from pan.

Stir together ketchup, brown sugar, and mustard in small bowl.  Pour over top of meatloaf and bake 10 minutes more.  Remove from oven, cover with aluminum foil and let rest 10 minutes before cutting.