Family Meatloaf

No, it isn’t made out of family! But, to be perfectly honest I have no idea what every member of my family put in their loaves… Though I do know for certain that my mother and sister always use oats. Being the rebel that I am, I tried bread, rice, and crackers but oats definitely makes a moister, more tender loaf. Don’t worry that it will have an “oaty” flavor, it won’t.

Ingredients

• 1 cup/100g uncooked oatmeal (porridge oats)
• 1 generous TBSP tomato paste
• 1 generous TBSP Worcestershire sauce (or soy sauce)
• 1 generous tsp mustard powder
• 1 generous tsp Italian seasonings
• 1 generous tsp granulated onion
• 1 generous tsp granulated garlic
• 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
• 1 tsp salt, or to taste
• 1 large egg
• 4oz/125ml milk
• 2lbs/900g lean ground/minced beef
• A little oil for greasing
• 6 strips of bacon for the top (streaky bacon)

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350f/180c
2. Put everything except the oil and bacon into a large mixing bowl.
3. Mix thoroughly (get your hands in there!) and set aside to rest for 10 minutes.
4. Meanwhile, lightly oil a roasting pan.
5. Lay the bacon slices out in the roasting pan, three lengthwise and three widthwise, Stretching the bacon slightly as you go. I like to weave the bacon but it isn’t necessary.
6. Once the meat mixture has rested, form it into an oval shape “ball” and place in the center of the prepared out bacon.
7. Pull the edges of the bacon around the loaf, its ok if they don’t reach all the way around. Carefully turn the loaf over and place it “ends of bacon” side down in the roasting pan.
8. Brush the bacon lightly with oil and bake in the preheated oven for 60 minutes.
9. If the bacon isn’t crisp enough, pop it under the broiler (grill) and watch it continually until the bacon is to your liking.
10. Lift out of the pan and let rest for 5 minutes on a cutting board before slicing.

Makes 8 to 12 Servings

Notes

• For a smoother meatloaf put everything but the beef, oil, and bacon into a food processor and blend into a paste before adding it to the meat.
• If you are the type that likes to make your loaf in a bread tin (loaf pan) you will need to increase the cooking time to 90 minutes.