Papa's Meatloaf

I'm convinced it's impossible to take a good picture of meatloaf.  You'll just have to trust me (and anyone who has tried this recipe) that it tastes like the definition of comfort food.  It's a good one. :)

This is an honest to goodness passed down through the generations family recipe!  Papa was my dad's grandfather, and he owned a restaurant.  This is one of those recipes that I'll always make and intend to continue to pass down to my children.  Growing up, we were always excited when my dad would make meatloaf.  We didn't understand the negative stigma everyone seemed to have toward meatloaf.  I mean, I know it's a kind of gross name and concept, but it's just so tasty!  It wasn't until I was in college when I learned that all meatloaf's are not created equal and our family had something special. 

Papa's Meatloaf

Ingredients:

1 pound lean ground beef

1 can chicken with rice soup

1 egg

1/2 medium onion, finely diced

2 cups Wheaties (or other bran flakes cereal)

ketchup

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  In a large bowl combine all the ingredients and mix together thoroughly.  This works best if you just get over the grossness and mix it with your hands.  Press meat mixture into an ungreased loaf pan.  Spread ketchup generously over the top.  Bake for 1 hour to 1 1/2 hours or until cooked through.  When it's done, the meatloaf will pull away from the edges of the pan, and it won't be pink in the middle.

Notes:

--The leaner the meat you use, the less greasy the meatloaf will be.  There is quite a bit of grease involved when you use the traditional 80/20 ground beef.

--This recipe can also be used for meatballs.  Just form meat mixture into balls and bake at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes.  

--If your kids don't like pieces of onions in their food, you can also grate the onion.  Grated onion is stronger, so just grate about 1/4 of an onion into the meat mixture.

Enjoy!

Jennie