DIY -- Basic Cooking V Meatloaf

I researched this topic on the web a little and found a place in Chicago that charges $40 for a meatloaf that serves 4-6 people.
Seriously?
DIY you can make a two-pound meatloaf which should serve 5-7 people for no more than $12.
You would only spend $40 on this meal if you bought gourmet sides somewhere or served a really expensive wine and that's not what meatloaf is about.
This will take you two hours including prep time.  If you froze the ground beef, you have to thaw it almost completely.  DO IT SAFELY in the fridge for 3 days.
You need one of those full-size roasting pans but trust me, you will clean it and use it again next week.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees

two pounds ground beef
1/2 cup crushed matso or small bread crumbs
1 egg
1/2 tsp black pepper
1 TBSP onion powder
1 TBSP garlic powder
optional 1 TBSP ground mustard
optional 1/4 tsp cayenne

Beat up the egg and seasonings, then knead with the other ingredients, and shape into a loaf.
Put it in the middle of the roaster and around it, arrange the following vegetables

4-6 roasting potatoes -- NOT in the plastic jackets, those are more expensive and are produced for microwaving
OR three good-sized sweet potatoes cut in half
1/2 sharp onion -- NOT Vidalia
2 carrots halved
2 stalks celery coarsely chopped
6 mushroom caps quartered

Put the lid on the roaster and put in the oven for half an hour.
Open the oven, open the roaster, and paint the top of the loaf thickly with ketchup or tomato paste.
If the vegetables seem to be drying out, pour in half a cup of red wine.
Cover again and roast another half hour.

This will serve dinner.  If you use only two potatoes, then you have a dinner and up to 4 sandwiches.
© Patricia Jo Heil, 2013-2018 All Rights Reserved