meatloaf.

Happy Father's Day!  My mom's yummy meatloaf would make a great dinner to celebrate Dad! 

1 1/4 lb. ground beef or turkey (or meatloaf mix: ground chuck, veal and pork), defrosted

1 can fire roasted tomatoes

1 stalk celery, chopped

1/2 small onion, chopped

1 egg

2 T fresh parsley, chopped

1 T fresh thyme, chopped

1/4 t. salt

1/4 t. pepper

1/4 t. garlic powder

1/2 c. Italian style bread crumbs* (homemade or store bought- suggested: Progresso)

1/4 c. BBQ sauce** (homemade or store bought)

1/4 c. to a 1/2 c. BBQ sauce, reserve for top

1 bag frozen crinkle cut carrots

1 bag pearl onions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Mix together all ingredients, except for the BBQ sauce reserved for the top.  Spray a 13 by 9 dish or roasting pan.  Shape meatloaf anyway you wish, but make sure you leave the top flat for BBQ sauce and room for the veggies around the edge.  Pour 1/4 cup water around the edge of the meatloaf.  Toss carrots and pearl onions into the reserved edge space.  Pour BBQ sauce over the top of the meatloaf.  Bake for 35 to 40 minutes.  Let rest five minutes before serving.  

*To make homemade bread crumbs, using dried out bread work well.  Bake a few pieces of dried out bread in the oven for 10 minutes.  Flip the bread after 5 minutes.  Let cool.  Use a food processor to make bread crumbs by pulsing a few times.  To make them Italian style, add 1/8 t. each garlic powder, dried thyme, dried oregano, and dried parsley.

**To make homemade BBQ sauce, combine 1 can tomato sauce, 1 clove garlic (minced), 1 T vinegar, 1 T Worcestershire, 1 T Dijon mustard, 1 T fresh lemon juice, and 1/4 c. brown sugar in a saucepan over med low heat.  Stir occasionally for 15 minutes.

xx.

val