Our Favorite Meatloaf

I grew up eating meatloaf.  I was never a particular fan as my mom, great cook that she was, tended to make food that was a bit bland.  Her meatloaf was always dry.  In 1978, my parents bought a new fancy stove with a microwave on top.  Microwaves were rare in those days and rarely found outside of institutional settings.  The cookbook that came with that microwave had this recipe which I have used ever since coming across it.  And yes--I cook it in the microwave.  You can bake it too but why do that when it only takes 25 minutes to cook in the wave?  It's also nice and moist.  Lately I've been making it with ground turkey and it's just as good.  Leftovers make a mean sandwich too.

Our Favorite Meatloaf

From Sears Microwave Cookbook 1978

Printable Recipe

Ingredients:

1 – 8 oz. Can tomato sauce

1/4 cup brown sugar

1/4 vinegar

1 teaspoon prepared mustard

1 egg, lightly beaten

1 medium onion, minced

1/4 cup cracker crumbs

2 pounds ground beef 

1 1/2 teaspoons salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

1. Combine tomato sauce, brown sugar, vinegar and mustard in a small bowl.  Set aside

2. Combine egg, onion, cracker crumbs, ground beef, salt and pepper in a mixing bowl.  

    Add 12 cup of the tomato mixture and blend thoroughly.  Shape into an oval loaf and place

    in an oblong baking dish.  Make a depression in top of loaf and pour remaining tomato sauce 

    over the top of the meat.

3. Cover with wax paper and microwave on Roast (70% power) for 25 – 30 minutes.  

    Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.  

Note:  Meatloaf can be baked at 350 degrees for 60 minutes if desired.

I make the following changes:  I use ground turkey instead of ground beef.  

I omit the salt and use about 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper.