Meatloaf

My husband has asked if I could make him meatloaf last night as he not had any since he was a kid..

I have never made it before....does anyone have any good recipes?

Well, I am not good at exact measurements, but I make it all the time for DH, and it goes something like this:

1 1/2 pounds mince beef (or something similar, a large pack)
1 medium onion, very finely chopped
1 green bell pepper, very finely chopped
a dash of thyme
about a cup of fine breadcrumbs
about 2 medium eggs beaten
about a cup of ketchup
salt and pepper, however much you like

mix the chopped onion and pepper with the mince, add seasonings.  mix the breadcrumbs into the egg separately (this is to avoid getting dry breadcrumbs in the meatloaf) and add this gloopy mixture into the meat mixture with the ketchup.  Don't overmix it.  transfer to a loaf pan, no need to grease the pan.  bake for about 30-45 minutes, then take it out and smear some more ketchup over the top and put it back in for another 30-45 mins.  I think I usually have the oven on about 190C, not exactly sure, but just make sure it isn't too hot, and that you cook it for about an hour to an hour and a half, the sides should shrink up from the pan a bit and the ketchup on top should be nicely browned.

There are all sorts of fancy recipes, but this is the simplest way it is usually done in Texas.  You can leave out the green onions if you prefer, and some people add carrots or other veg, though I'm not a big fan of carrots.

I am currently planning to work on a recipe with brown sauce instead of ketchup, just for a change.   

http://talk.uk-yankee.com/index.php?topic=40061.15   

I used to use an recipe, now I do this.
Dump the following into a bowl: a packet of ground meat, about half a container of bread crumbs, more ketchup than you think is right, quite a few squirts of worchester sauce,  and then a couple more squirts, some shakes of parsley and an egg.  Then I mix it all up with my hands, shape it into a loaf shape, make a ridge down the middle, squirt even more ketchup into the ridge and bake in the oven for an hour at about gas 5 or 6.  Viola.

Oh, and I usually serve it with mash, brown gravy, and sweetcorn on the side.  True American dinner!  Though there are some very nice recipes on the other post about this, but the one I do would be less expensive and easier, I imagine... you could ask your hubby what he likes in his....

This HANDS DOWN is the best meatloaf recipe in the world. Its Martha Stewart, and its fantastic. Keeps well in the freezer also, and toddlers who don't like other food seem to really like it. I am going to try it with Turkey this weekend.http://www.marthastewart.com/recipe/meatloaf-101-with-mrs-kostyra?autonomy_kw=meatloaf&rsc=header_4

Hmmn...I think I am going to like this 

The posts above are spot on.

I sometimes add small cubes of Mozzarella and mix it in. It's really nice
Sometimes I do a bit of hot sauce for a kick.
I def fry up some onions and garlic!
And use of seasonings is a must (I love italian seasoning and garlic powder, always use some salt and pepper with red meat!)
I usually use breadcrumbs but it's hard for me  to find them  here, so I have been leaving them out.

So easy, I might make it tomorrow night!

Hmmn...I think I am going to like this 

Yeah, DH loves it, he suspects it's secretly English... he has me make it for Sunday dinners with yorkshire puddings and all the regular stuff.  It really does mix in well with English fare.  

Oh, since I don't usually like the breadcrumbs here (why are they orange??) I usually just put some ritz crackers in the food processor and blitz them until finely crushed.  They make the best breadcrumbs, anyway, IMHO. 
And you can fry the onions and garlic, but if you don't (I usually don't bother) you should chop them as finely as possible, you don't want big crunchy pieces of veg in there, and they don't tend to get as soft as you would think. 
I usually use a bit of garlic powder, though i think I might have left that off, and chop the onions and green pepper until really tiny. 

Easy recipe..  
2 eggs
1/2 cup water
Mix in a large bowl
Add one 6oz. Stovetop stuffing mix
Mix again
Add 2 lbs. burger
Bake covered 1hr, uncover and bake 15-30 more mins at 350*

I made it last night and used a small package of sage & onion stuffing mix, one crumbled piece of bread, a bit of brown sauce on top and baked at 180*C for 1hr 20mins.
My sweetheart remembers Homer & Bart Simpson arguing over the end piece of meatlaof so that's his favourite part.  :-)    

OMG, my DH always says that, too, and asks if Wednesday night can be meatloaf night like on the Simpsons... 

I add diced mushrooms to mine, but we really like mushrooms and I add them to just about everything.

MMM now i want meatloaf!!!

Have to wait for the package from the US to come since I use onion soup mix in mine

leftover meatloaf sandwiches are the best!!