Meat Loaf for the Kids

A comfort food that any picky kid, even a teenager would love. This meat loaf doesn't have kethup or mustard or worcetershire.

Got this from the Nora Daza cook book which may have evolved a bit but not far from it's original. Unless they hate bacon, the kids will love it.

You will need a meat loaf tin, but a rectangular metal container that's at least, 3 by 8 inches will do, as long as the height of the container is also about 3 inches. Sometimes, I just use a square pyrex. It will taste the same :)

Ingredients:
Meat Loaf
450 grams premium beef mince
450 grams pork mince
1 cup whole milk
1 cup white bread
1 egg
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp or less pepper (depends on your taste)
3 to 5 strips bacon

Gravy:
2 tbsps flour
2 tbsps butter
3/4 cup beef broth
1/4 cup milk

Preheat the oven at 180 degrees

1. Soak the bread in the milk and mash until dissolved
2. Mix all the ingredients well.
3. Cook a small piece to taste. I just microwave a small piece for a few seconds to test it. Improve the taste remembering that the bacon drippings will add saltiness to the flavor.
4. Oil the meat loaf tin a bit and line with bacon. I usually line even the sides, but just the bottom will do.
5. Pour the meat loaf mix. Pat with a spatula specially the middle part so the shape stays flat as the middle part tends to "inflate."
7. Bake for about an hour. It depends on the oven, but one hour would be a safe estimate.
8. I turn it over a flat pan and bake it again for about 5 minutes so the bacon is brown. There will be some juice, so you can use some of it to add to the gravy. If the juice is still red...then it's not yet cooked. Needs a bit more baking.

Don't drain the meat loaf's juice or press when cooked...that will dry it out.

For the Gravy:
1. Melt the butter in a pan, add the flour until you get a smooth consistency
2. Add the milk, Add the broth and the drippings if any
3. If you use a whisk, it will be easier to smoothen out the gravy
4. I also add mushrooms :)

Enjoy this Filipino-American style Meat Loaf with steaming hot rice.