Meatloaf

Meatloaf was one of my least favorite meals as a child.  I learned later in life that I really didn't hate meatloaf, I hated my mother's meatloaf.  It wasn't really meatloaf it was more of a giant hamburger.  It was dry, flavorless, and blah.  Her ingredients were meat, breadcrumbs, egg, and onion.  As you can see I have added a few things...

1 1/2 - 2lbs of ground meat (turkey or a turkey / sirloin mix)

1 onion diced fine

1 cup celery

2 eggs

1/2 cup salsa

Hot sauce

1/2 - 1 cup bbq sauce

salt

pepper

old bay or creole spice

1 cup bread crumbs

1 tbls soy sauce

ketchup

bacon

This is a tough one for me to put down on paper.  It's a lot about how it looks and feels in the bowl.  Go a bit less on most amounts until you get a feel for it.  You don't want an overly wet mixture that had to get all bread crumbed up in the end.  Start by whisking up the 2 eggs, onions, celery, and salsa in a bowl.  Then add the meat and combine with your hands, or a wooden spoon.  Add spice as you desire and a few dashes of the hot sauce depending on your taste.  I usually go heavy on the old bay, pepper and soy.  I have to tone down the salt and hot sauce for the wife.  Once all this is in you should be left with bread crumbs and bbq sauce.  Add a liberal amount of bbq and then start adding the crumbs.  Combine well and if you like bbq then add more or even some liquid smoke.  Just try not to have to add mountains of crumbs to dry it out. 

I like to mound the mixture in a loaf shape, wrap in raw bacon, and place in a greased baking dish.