New England-Style Meat Loaf

New Englanders love their meat loaf made with crushed saltines and draped in bacon. This is Sunday supper comfort food.

Recipe Ingredients:

2 large eggs
1/2 cup finely chopped onion
1/2 cup finely chopped green bell pepper
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons ketchup
1/2 cup crushed saltines
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
Freshly ground black pepper to taste
2 pounds lean ground beef
4 slices of bacon, halved crosswise

Cooking Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 400°F (205°C).
2. In a bowl whisk together egg, onion, bell pepper, 2 tablespoons of ketchup, saltines, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper; add beef and blend mixture with your hands until it is just combined.
3. Form the mixture into an 8 x 4-inch loaf in a shallow baking pan, spread the remaining tablespoon ketchup over and drape the bacon pieces across loaf.
4. Bake meat loaf in the middle of the oven for 30 minutes.

Makes 6 servings.