TASTY MEATLOAF

Here's a recipe that's easy enough prepare any day of the week. In fact, I wish you would. It will yield two nice loaves so you can easily have one for dinner, and one for a reserve meal later in the week, or if you're feeding more people, just make one large one. For the mixture part of the recipe, dig deep in your vegetable drawers. You'll likely have some of the ingredients on hand, and if not, the basic version is fine. The additional ingredients simply add to the complexity of the flavors. Let your imagination and your on-hand supplies give you the opportunity to be creative.

1 round onion, diced into 1/4" pieces
3 cloves whole garlic, finely chopped
2-3 stalks of celery, finely diced
1/2 pk of fresh mushrooms (optional)
1/2 bell pepper (green, red or orange), finely diced (optional)
10 - 12 slices of bacon, (4-6 pieces into 1/4" inch pieces and reserve another 4-6 slices for the loaf)
1 cup seasoned breadcrumbs (HINT: I used stale flavored bread and ground it up in a food processor - excellent option)
1 egg
1/2 cup parmesan cheese
1 1/2 lbs. ground beef
1 lb. ground pork
1/2 to 1 cup barbeque sauce (optional)
Salt & pepper to taste

In a large saute pan over medium heat, cook the onions, garlic, celery, and bacon (plus any of the additional ingredients) in a drizzle of olive oil for about 8 to 10 minutes, or until all the ingredients begin to soften and take on a slightly browned color. Set aside to cool for at least 10 to 15 minutes.
Place the pork and beef in a separate bowl.
When the mixture has cooled, add it to the meat along with the egg, bread crumbs and cheese.
Using your hands, gently mix everything together until it is well blended. This is the only way to do this. Dig way to the bottom of the bowl to make sure that everything is well combined.
Season with salt and pepper. Do not over mix. Prepare a large 9 x 13 pan by spraying a little bit of cooking spray (aka PAM) and wipe off the excess. Divide the meat mixture into two and shape both pieces into a loaf, directly in the pan. If you prefer, shape the entire mixture into one large loaf. Place bacon strips over the top of the meatloaf and carefully spread barbecue sauce over the bacon. Cover tightly and bake at 375 degrees for about 1 hour. You will need to check it before the hour is up to make sure that it is not overcooking. Remove the cover and bake for another 10 minutes. After it is done, let it set for about 15 minutes to let it rest and allow the juices to redistribute throughout the loaf. Serve with rice or mashed potatoes and a nice green salad. Enjoy!