Standard fare at church suppers throughout the region. New England meat loaves often use crushed crackers rather than bread crumbs as a binder.
Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.
Recipe information
Yield
Serves 2
Ingredients
1 large egg
1/4 cup finely chopped onion
1/4 cup finely chopped green bell pepper
3 tablespoons ketchup
5 Saltines, crushed fine (about 1/4 cup)
1 1/2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 pound ground chuck (preferably not lean)
2 slices of bacon, halved crosswise
Preparation
Preheat the oven to 400°F. In a bowl whisk together the egg, the onion, the bell pepper, 2 tablespoons of the ketchup, the Saltines, the Worcestershire sauce, the salt, and pepper to taste, add the chuck, and blend the mixture with your hands until it is just combined (do not overmix). Form the mixture into an 8- by 4-inch loaf in a shallow baking pan, spread the remaining tablespoon ketchup over it, and drape the bacon pieces across the loaf. Bake the meat loaf in the middle of the oven for 30 minutes.
