Meatloaf

Fall is the perfect time to break out the big guns-- the big pile of seasoned, baked meat. Men everywhere love to eat meatloaf, and when prepared nutritiously, women everywhere can be happy to serve it at their tables.

 

Ingredients:

1 lb ground beef (organic, grass-fed beef) or ground turkey or ground bison or ground deer, etc.

1/2 small green bell pepper, diced (if you like spicy, add a hot pepper or two)

1/2 small red onion, diced

About 1/2-3/4 cup bread crumbs (panko, flax, homemade, etc.)

Sea salt and pepper to taste

1 pasture egg

How To:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix all ingredients in a large boal form into a loaf and transfer onto a baking dish.

2. Cook for 45 minutes to an hour or until done. Let sit about 10 minutes, then slice and serve.

Comments: This is actually my husband's recipe, so be advised that the amounts above are all general estimates (although I helped him make the 1 lb. loaf today by cutting the peppers and onions so I have a pretty good idea). Typically, he makes a four or five pound loaf and includes chipotle peppers (one can) and makes a chipotle meatloaf. It's really good and we've made it with turkey meat, grass-fed beef, and deer in the past and I think all versions are equally good. Today, he wanted to use the bhut jolokia peppers (world's hottest peppers) that we grew so he made a four pound "hot" meat loaf with three of those peppers diced and then he also made a one pound "mild" meat loaf. Also, he smokes his meat loaf, so when he cooks meatloaf we do not follow the oven directions above (although when I'm cooking it, I do). Instead, the meatloaf goes into a glass baking dish wrapped with foil and is smoked for 2 to 3 hours (the four or five pound meat loaf) or less (about 45 minutes to an hour) for a smaller one.

Also, you can made a glaze for the top that includes ketchup (try this), barbeque sauce, honey, chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, etc. combined and then spread on top before cooking, if desired.