The Best Meat Loaf in the World

Every family has its own meat loaf recipe and manyfamily to yours.THE BEST MEAT LOAF IN THE
of them start with a soup mix. However this familyWORLDINGREDIENTS: 3/4 cup fresh wheat bread
recipe, given to me years ago by my mother-in-law,crumbs; 3/4 cup skim milk; 1 1/2 pounds 90% or
is made-from-scratch meat loaf. I'm not talking about93% lean ground beef; 2 large eggs, beaten; 1/4 cup
the mushy, mystery meat loaf you may have eatengrated onion; 1 teaspoon salt; 1/8 teaspoon frershly
at restaurants. No, I'm talking about all beef meat loafground pepper; 1/2 teaspoon dried sageCombine
with ketchup and brown sugar topping.Qualityingredients in a large mixing bowl with a fork. (Don't
ingredients are what make this meat loaf so good.over-mix or the meat loaf will be tough.) Turn meat
First of all, the recipe calls for only one kind of meat -mixture into a meat loaf pan. Smooth the meat loaf
ground beef. The bread crumbs are fresh, notwith the tines of the fork. Prepare topping with 1/4
something from a can. The onion is also fresh, thoughcup ketchup, 3 tablespoons brown sugar (or
I've used dehydrated in a pinch. As for the topping, itno-calorie brown sugar), 1 teaspoon dry mustard, and
makes every mouthful of meat loaf extra1/4 teaspoon nutmeg. Spread topping over meat loaf.
delicious.To make the meat loaf healthier I'veBake in 350 degree oven for 1 hour. Let meat loaf
changed a few of the ingredients. I use 90% or 93%cool for 10 minutes before slicing. Makes 8-10
lean ground beef, not the cheaper, fattier kind. Skimservings.Copyright 2005 by Harriet Hodgson. Hodgson
milk replaces whole milk. Instead of white breadhas been a nonfiction writer for 27 years and is a
crumbs I use whole wheat bread crumbs. Often Imember of the Association of Health Care Journalists.
use no-calorie brown sugar instead of regular.You canBefore she became a health writer she was a food
make this meat loaf in minutes. A family of four,writer for the former "Rochester Magazine" in her
including two teens, will proably eat this meat loaf athometown of Rochester, MN. Her 24th book, "Smiling
one sitting. If you have any leftovers you can makeThrough Your Tears: Anticipating Grief," written with
meat loaf sandwiches or crumble the meat loaf intoLois Krahn, MD, is available from A five-star review
spaghetti sauce. Here's the recipe, a gift from myof the book is also posted on Amazon.