Meat Loaf

Don't skip the ground pork. Don't use too lean ground beef; the fat will drip out.

Unbalanced

% Daily Values based on a 2,000 calorie diet

Step 1

Mix all ingredients. Heat and stir.

Step 2

Heat oil in medium skillet. Add onions (and other vegetables); sauté until softened, about 5 minutes. Add garlic; sauté 1 minute. Set aside to cool while preparing remaining ingredients.

Step 3

Mix eggs with thyme, salt, pepper, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, pepper sauce, and milk. Add egg mixture to meat in large bowl along with crackers, cooked vegetables and garlic; mix with fork until evenly blended and meat mixture does not stick to bowl. (If mixture sticks, add additional milk one tablespoon at a time until mix no longer sticks.)

Step 4

Heat oven to 350 degrees.

Step 5

Line loaf pan with plastic wrap. Pat mixture into loaf pan to shape. Turn loaf on to baking rack above foil lined shallow baking pan. Brush loaf with a quarter of glaze, then arrange bacon slices in criss-cross pattern over loaf, tucking tips of bacon under loaf.

Step 6

Bake loaf until bacon is criso and internal temperature is 155 degrees, about one hour. Let rest for 10 minutes. Serve with remaining glaze.