Down & Dirty Meatloaf

Down & Dirty Meatloaf

I call it this because you have to get your fingers down in the "heart" of the recipe and mush everything around until thoroughly mixed. Makes your hands feel icky and sticky, but it sure does taste good!

2 eggs
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup ketchup (or tomato sauce)
2 pounds lean ground beef or turkey
1 cup stuffing mix or bread crumbs
1 pkg. onion soup mix
1 can Italian-style tomato sauce (optional)

In a large bowl, beat the two eggs. Then add the water and ketchup and stir well. Put the ground beef in the center of mixture, dump stuffing (or bread crumbs) and onion mix on top and start mushing. Don't be squeamish - do a good job until all of the liquid is mixed together well with the ground beef. Then put your mush mixture into a loaf pan and bake at 350 degrees for an hour.

OPTIONAL: Heat up the tomato sauce and serve on the side to be ladled over the sliced meatloaf.

NOTE: If making this as a "Make-Ahead Meal," be sure to use fresh ground beef or turkey. Mix all of the ingredients together as instructed and place in a loaf pan that is freezer and oven safe. Tightly wrap in plastic wrap and/or aluminum foil and freeze. DO NOT COOK before freezing. When ready to serve and eat, let thaw and follow the cooking instructions above.