adventures in meatloaf

ok, so i'll admit... i hate meatloaf. always have (which is probably why i've never made it myself). i keep trying it different ways and still have not found a variation that i enjoy eating. my nerd loves the stuff, so i thought i'd give it a go. mission impossible if you ask me, but i love my nerd, and i love to make the food he likes to eat. and of course, i can't just make the garden variety meatloaf. it has to be different. i have heard of, but have never actually seen, meatloaf with an egg stuffed in the middle. so, here's my recipe.

meatloaf with hardboiled egg center:

2 hard boiled eggs, peeled

16 oz lean ground beef

2 eggs, raw

1 c old fashioned oats, dry & uncooked

1/2 c white onion, chopped

2 tbs light brown sugar

4 tbs tomato juice

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp black pepper

1 tbs fresh oregano, chopped

1 garlic cloves, minced

1 tbs worcestershire

2 slices bacon

2 tbs ketchup

2 mini loaf pans coated with olive oil

preheat over to 350

mix all ingredients, except for hard boiled eggs, ketchup, and bacon.

 

fill each loaf pan half way with ground beef mixture, then place an egg into each one. firmly press the remaining beef mixture into the pans.

  

cover each loaf with bacon, then spread 1 tbs ketchup over each.

place on a baking sheet and bake, on center rack, for 40 minutes.

serves 4 (or 2 plus leftovers)

results: meh...

i forgot to add the worcestershire, and honestly, i still don't like meatloaf. however.......... the egg was great, and i think with a few tweaks it would be edible (the nerd liked it, just thought it lacked a little zazz). my favorite part of this meal was the sides- steamed corn on the cob and my anti-vamp pasta salad (recipe coming soon). 

notes for next time: don't forget the worcestershire; render some bacon and add it, crumbled, to the mixture; use ketchup instead of tomato juice; increase oregano to 1/4 cup.