2005

Awesome and Simple Italian Garlicky Meat Loaf

Source: Recipezaar

This meat loaf is so flavorful, but doesn't require endless ingredients! It is simple and soooo good. I almost always have the ingredients on hand straight from the pantry. The original recipe is from Cooking A to Z but I had to modify it a bit because I always have too much or too little of something! My family loves it, it tastes even better leftover, and it makes the house smell delicious!

1 1/4 cups seasoned bread crumbs
5 tablespoons grated dry parmesan cheese (Romano is a good choice, also)
5 tablespoons minced parsley (I use dried to save effort)
2 tablespoons finely minced garlic
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
2 lbs ground beef (not too lean)
2 eggs
ketchup, to taste

Preheat oven to 350°F and grease a large loaf pan. Mix 3/4 cup bread crumbs, cheese, parsley, garlic, salt and pepper, reserving the remaining bread crumbs to use as necessary. Add the meat and use a fork to mix the ingredients uniformly. Add the eggs and knead it with your hands until a "dough" ball forms, it should hold its shape and not be too dry and crumbly (add some water) or too sticky sloppy (add more bread crumbs). Mold the meat mixture into the loaf pan and top with a layer of ketchup as desired. Bake for 70 minutes. Slices best when cooled and tastes even better reheated as leftovers!