Tomato-Onion Meat Loaf

Fix a pan of homemade meatloaf for supper with mashed potatoes and buttered green beans—or slice it for hearty sandwiches, hot or cold.

Recipe Ingredients:

2 pounds lean ground beef
2 large eggs
1 1/2 cups dry bread crumbs
3/4 cup ketchup
1/2 cup warm water
1 (2.4-ounce) package dry onion soup mix
3 strips smoked bacon
1 (15-ounce) can tomato sauce

Cooking Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9x5x2-inch loaf pan; set aside.
2. Combine ground beef, eggs, bread crumbs, ketchup, warm water and dry onion soup mix in a large mixing bowl. Blend thoroughly; place mixture into loaf pan. Shape to fit pan; spread bacon strips on top. Pour tomato sauce over meatloaf. Bake for 1 hour or until temperature reaches 160°F (70°C)on a meat thermometer.
3. Remove from oven; drain of excess fat and allow to sit in pan for about 5 minutes. Serve as an entrée or in sandwiches.

Makes 6 servings.