This isn’t something that I make often,  mainly because it’s not the healthiest of dinners, and when I do me and daddy try not to indulge although it is pretty hard considering those delightful pieces of bacon all out and through the loaf!

As for the little ones they pretty much dive in head first with no sign of coming  out until I blow the whistle, which is fine by me because  I make it just for them and I’m sure your family will enjoy it too, so here we go.

All  you need is…….

1.25 Lbs Ground Beef (at least 85% lean)

4 Slices of This Apple wood Smoked Bacon

1 stalk celery chopped finely

1 small red onion chopped finely

2 garlic cloves pressed

1 1/2 cup Italian Style Bread Crumbs

1 cup Sharp Cheddar Cheese plus a bit for sprinkling

1/3 cup ketchup

2 Tablespoons Stone Ground Mustard

2 Tablespoons Sweet Relish

1 Tablespoon Worcestershire

2 Eggs

Topping

1/3 cup Ketchup

1 teaspoon Stone Ground Mustard

a few dashes of Worcestershire

a few sliced red onion

Pre heat oven to 350° Chop up that bacon into tiny pieces and place in hot pan evenly.

Turn heat on a cook bacon rendering the fat.

When bacon brown add that garlic to the fat and let cook a bit, now add your chopped onion and celery to pan.

Saute everything together, make sure bacon is no longer pink and when celery and onion are soft turn off heat.

Let that sit and cool off for bit.   In a bowl  mix ground beef, bread crumbs shredded cheese, ketchup, mustard, relish, Worcestershire, eggs.

Now add the cooked bacon garlic, onion and celery with all its drippings.

Mix everything well, go on ahead and put your hands in it!

Now place the mix in a meatloaf pan. If you don’t have one  form a loaf with your hands and place in baking dish.  

For the topping mix the ketchup, mustard, and Worcestershire sauce good! Spread on top of meatloaf.

Add red onion on top. tightly cover loaf pan with aluminum foil.

Place in oven for cook in oven for 40 minutes and them take off aluminum foil turn up to 400° and cook for another 10 minutes.

When finished serve, topped with a sprinkle of cheese and crumbled bacon.

Meatloaf may not be my fave but I do find that meatloaf is a child pleasing meat, and when it comes to pleasing a child my hands are full with Miss Picky Elle, my three year old, she eats every crumb of my meatloaf off her plate, never-mind the potatoes and green stuff (veggies) left behind, she will quickly ask for seconds “more meat please”, as she said tonight.

If you’re going to make meatloaf for a simple and easy meal the ingredients should be as simple and easy.

Well this one certainly is, not a whole lot of stuff, bells or whistles just the simple kitchen staples, while still satisfying a more mature palette, meaning I enjoy it as well, and satisfy a more immature one, (as in my Elle).

So to wrap it up

I make meatloaf to avoid the baby drama…keep the peace at your tabletop and make some tonight, and tell me what you think.

What you’ll need…

1 lb. Ground Beef

1 Pack of Ritz Crackers crushed

1 Teaspoon garlic salt (I use one with parsley mixed in)

2 Eggs

1 Teaspoon ground sage

¾ cup Ketchup separated

2 Tablespoon Worcestershire Sauce separated

Using the Ritz Crackers eliminates the need for salt!

Pre heat oven to 350ᴼ

Mix ground beef, crushed crackers, garlic salt, eggs, ground sage, ½ cup ketchup, 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce.

Incorporate well; don’t be afraid to use those fingers.

After getting everything well incorporated put into a meatloaf dish, or you can simply form the mix into a loaf if you don’t have a loaf pan available.

Wash your hands. Bake in oven at 350° about 30 minutes covered in tin foil. 

With the additional 1 Tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce and ½ cup ketchup mix together.

After 30 minutes put the sauce on top of meatloaf and put back in oven on 400ᴼ for about 10-15 more minutes.

Watch it! You can tell it’s done when the sides are getting a deep brown crust, oh how I enjoy that crust. 

Click here for a delicious side dish of  garlic mashed poatoes!