Old-Fashioned Meatloaf

This Southern meatloaf recipe features Creole and Greek seasonings and a hint of garlic. A few tablespoons of Worcestershire sauce spice up the traditional ketchup topping.

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon butter
• 3 celery ribs, finely chopped
• 1/2 large onion, finely chopped
• 2 pounds lean ground beef
• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce, divided
• 1/2 cup Italian-seasoned breadcrumbs
• 1/3 cup ketchup
• 2 teaspoons Creole seasoning
• 1 teaspoon Greek seasoning
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
• 1 (8-ounce) can tomato sauce
• 3 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1 tablespoon ketchup
• Garnish: chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

Directions:

1. Melt butter in a medium nonstick skillet over medium heat; add celery and onion, and sauté 7 minutes or just until tender.
2. Stir together celery mixture, ground beef, 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, breadcrumbs, and next 5 ingredients in a large bowl. Shape into a 10- x 5-inch loaf; place on a lightly greased broiler rack. Place rack in an aluminum foil-lined broiler pan.
3. Bake at 350° for 45 minutes. Stir together remaining 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, tomato sauce, tomato paste, and 1 tablespoon ketchup until blended; pour evenly over meatloaf, and bake 10 to 15 more minutes or until no longer pink in center. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.
4. Note: For testing purposes only, we used Tony Chachere's Original Creole Seasoning and Cavender's All Purpose Greek Seasoning.

Gina Jester, Fairfield Grocery & Market, Southern Living
APRIL 2005