Meat loaf - almost everybody's favorite. I hope you'll try my version of barbecued meat loaf. It's really delicious!
Ingredients:
3 lbs. meat loaf mix (veal, pork and beef)
1/2 c. chopped bell pepper (any color)
1/2 c. chopped Vidalia onion
4 slices of bread, crust removed
milk (enough to moisten bread slices)
2 T. butter or olive oil
salt and pepper, to taste
2 eggs (room temperature, beaten with a fork)
2 T. Worcestershire sauce
1/2 c. your favorite BBQ sauce (plus extra for basting)
1 lb. bacon
1/4 c. chopped parsley
Place bread slices in a bowl. Pour enough milk over bread to moisten, but not drench. Allow to absorb.
Chop onion and pepper. In a skillet, add butter or olive oil. Sweat the vegetables until they are soft but not browned and allow to cool.
In a large mixing bowl, add meat loaf mixture. Using your hand, squeeze excess milk from the bread. Tear into small pieces and add to meat. Add beaten eggs, salt and pepper, Worcestershire sauce, barbecue sauce, parsley and cooled vegetables. Mix lightly to combine, using two forks.
Determine what pan you are using to bake the meat loaf in. I use a pan specifically for meat loaf, which has an insert in it, allowing fat to drain. If you don't have that, you can use a bread pan or bake on a rack in a 9x13 pan.
In a loaf pan that has been sprayed with non stick coating, lay slices of bacon, alternating slices so that every other ones is longer on the opposite side. If you choose to bake on a rack, try laying the bacon out in the same manner on a sheet of parchment paper. Shape meat mixture into a leaf and place in the middle of the bacon. Pull up the sides to encase the bacon. Remove from parchment onto a rack that has been sprayed with non stick coating.
Preheat oven to 450 degrees and cover meat loaf with aluminum foil. Bake for one hour. Remove from oven and remove foil. Baste the top of the meat loaf with additional barbecue sauce. Return to the oven uncovered for an additional half hour at 400 degrees or until meat juices run clear (165 degree internal temperature). Allow to set for ten minutes before serving.
Serve with your favorite side dish. Yields 4-6 servings.
