Meat Loaf

From West Coast Cooking by Greg Atkinson

1 lb ground beef
1 lb ground pork
1 Tb oil
1 med onion, peeled and coarsely chopped
2 eggs
1 cup panko
1/4 c water
1/4 c ketchup
1 Tb salt
1 tea pepper
1 tea dried thyme
1/2 tea freshly ground nutmeg
4 slices bacon (optional)

1. Preheat the oven to 375 and oil a 2-quart ceramic or glass baking dish. Put the ground beef and pork in a large mixing bowl.

2. Finely chop the onion or put it in the food processor and process, pulsing until the onion is virtually pureed. Add the eggs, panko, water, 1/4 c ketchup, salt, pepper, thyme, and nutmeg and pulse to incorporate.

3. Pour the mixture from the food processor into the mixing bowl with the meat, and with your hands, work the mixture until all of the ingredients are thoroughly combined.

4. Shape the mixture into an elongated oval shape and place it in the oiled pan. If desired, lay half-slices of bacon over the loaf.

65. Bake the meat loaf until a thermometer inserted in teh middle reads 160, about an hour. Allow to rest for 10 minutes before slicing.