Homemade Meat Loaf

Ingredients

• 1 pound ground beef
• 1/2 bell pepper
• 1 tbl garlic, minced
• 1/4 cup chopped onions
• 1 envelope of meatloaf seasoning or a pack of Italian dressing mix (.07 OZ)
• 2 eggs
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1 1/4 cups of crushed crackers 
• 1 Tbl Worcestershire sauce
• 2 Tbl ketchup
• 1 15-ounce can tomato soup, divided

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350F rack in the middle.
2. In a large bowl add the crackers and milk and gently mix.
3. Then, add the ground beef, eggs, seasoning, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, onions, ketchup, and 3 Tbl of tomato soup.
4. Just combine but try not to overwork it as it will get tough. If the mixture is too wet, add in 1-2 more Tbl of oats (don’t worry if they aren’t soaked). If too dry, add in the milk 1-2 Tbl at a time. You want the mixture to be pretty moist but firm enough to hold a shape.
5. In the bowl gently press together.
6. Transfer the mixture to a baking sheet and using your hands, form a loaf that is about 12 inches long, 6 inches wide, and about 2 1/2 inches tall. The loaf should be smooth and have rounded edges. This will help the loaf stay together when serving.
7. Bake for 30 minutes, remove from the oven and spread the remaining tomato soup on top of the meatloaf.
8. Continue baking for another 30 minutes.
9. Remove from the oven and allow to rest for 10-15 minutes before serving.