Recipe - Meatloaf

The company a friend of mine is working for is taking part in the Thames Water Charity Raft Race. This Sunday they were putting the finishing touches to their raft and I was roped in to do the cooking.

I knew I had to feed about 10 - 15 people and that I only had about 1.5 - 2 hours to do my prep and cooking. My plan was to go for something simple yet filling, in this case I choose the classic meatloaf.

I served it with crusty white bread, a crispy salad and some Kettle chips.

No one died and most people seemed to like it I so I deem this foray into catering a success! ;)


Ingredients (serves about 12 - 15 people)
1 kg beef mince
1 kg pork mince
12 rashers bacon, cooked until crispy and then chopped
2 peppers, chopped
2 onions, chopped
3 celery stalks, chopped
3 chili peppers, sliced
3 eggs
Tabasco, to taste
Soy sauce, to taste
Ketchup, a good squirt
Barbecue sauce, homemade or store bought
Salt
Pepper

Method
Heat the oven to 180c/350F/Gas mark 4. Sweat the vegetables in a frying pan for a little while, but be careful so they don't lose too much of their crunchiness.

Once the veggies have been fried off, mix them with thoroughly the mince, eggs, soy sauce, Tabasco and ketchup. Season to taste, remembering that the bacon and soy sauce are quite salty.

Put the mixture into a roasting dish, moulding it so it looks like a loaf. Once that's done chuck it into the oven.

After 35 - 40 minutes, take it out of the oven and pour the barbecue sauce on top - making sure to cover all of it. This time I was lazy and used Budweiser Barbecue Sauce which actually tasted very nice. Maybe they should stick to making sauce instead of beer? ;) Once the sauce has been applied the loaf goes back into the oven.

Give it another 20 minutes or so, or until you think it's cooked to your liking, in the oven.

Take it out of the oven and let it rest under tin foil for about 10 - 15 minutes.

Slice and serve!

Enjoy!