Old-Fashioned Meatloaf

So did you catch the Bismarck edition of A Prairie Home Companion this weekend? As a NPR nut, it is often the soundtrack to my weekend putterings. I didn't make it to the actual recording at the Civic Center, but heard it all on the radio. How amazing is Andra Suchy? Seriously. Homegrown talent right there. I heard her play once at the Prime Steer and was just blown away by her cover of Jolene.

Oh, this is a food blog? I know, I'm getting there.

Anyway, I must have had Prairie Home Companion on the mind when I baked up this old-fashioned meatloaf. With mashed potatoes. On a Sunday evening, no less. No, I didn't wear the June Cleaver pearls and heels, although that would've made the whole scene complete, wouldn't it?

I never make meatloaf. I just don't think of it. But if I was going to make meatloaf, I wanted a good base recipe. I went to Smitten Kitchen, but then saw that SK proclaims not to like meatloaf. So off to Epicurious. I had to flip through a few recipes to hit on one I wanted to try - I'm sure the meatloaf with chopped prunes is much better than it sounds, and the chopped chicken livers loaf wasn't what I was going for either. I just wanted something 1950's classic.

I finally found this ketchup-laden number. Perfect. I tweaked it by using elk burger and adding bbq sauce and it was exactly what I was shooting for - moist, flavorful, almost a little sweet - and even better since the baby was napping during dinner, giving my husband and I a rare opportunity to just sit, talk, and linger at the table. I take those little moments whenever I can get them.

Old-Fashioned Meatloaf

2 cups finely chopped onion
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 celery rib, chopped fine
1 carrot, chopped fine
2 tablespoons butter
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
1/3 cup ketchup
1/3 cup bbq sauce
2 pounds ground meat (I used elk burger, but you can use all beef, or a beef/pork combo)
1 cup fresh bread crumbs
2 large eggs, beaten lightly
1/3 cup chopped fresh parsley

Preheat oven to 350°F. In a small bowl, mix together ketchup and bbq sauce; set aside.

In a large heavy skillet cook onion, garlic, celery, and carrot in butter over moderate heat, stirring, 5 minutes. Cook vegetables, covered, stirring occasionally, until carrot it tender, about 5 minutes more. Stir in salt and pepper, Worcestershire sauce, and 1/2 the ketchup mixture and cook, stirring, 1 minute.

In a large bowl combine well vegetables, meats, bread crumbs, eggs, and parsley. On a rimmed baking sheet form mixture into a 10" x 5" oval loaf and spread remaining ketchup mixture over loaf.

Bake meat loaf in oven 1 hour, or until a meat thermometer inserted in center registers 155°F.