Hubby's Favorite Meatloaf

A special post for Father's Day, dedicated to Arlo & Mia's Daddy.

The first time I made meatloaf was when I was just nineteen years old. I had just started dating my now husband, Luke, who was always taking me out for meals. He clearly learned the way to my heart very quickly ha! But I was a student in college, had very little extra money to pay for dinners to take him out and wanted to do something special for him, so I offered to cook him a meal at my house as a date, whatever he wanted! I was up for the challenge and confident in my new found cooking skills. To my surprise he requested meatloaf. Boring old meatloaf. I was so disappointed. I had plans of wine and candles and a beautiful meal with multiple courses, but that isn't Luke. So, as promised I made him  a meatloaf with all the fixings, mashed potato, boiled carrots with ketchup on the side. He loved it, and I loved that he did, but I couldn't stop there, I wanted to create a meatloaf that was something to be really excited about. So after nearly 8 years of playing with different ideas I think I have finally come up with a meatloaf that is worth a post here on Grace & Jack.

You know that saying, girls marry men like their fathers? Well that was true for me in so many ways. You will never guess who else loves meatloaf, my very own Dad. I remember my mom making meatloaf for my dad as a special treat after a busy week at work. What is it with these guys and their meatloaf! I think it must give them some super powers because these two men are pretty awesome dads and we are so unbelievably fortunate to have them in our lives. As well as ALL of Arlo & Mia's others Poppy's and Great Poppy's, there are quite a few wonderful male role models in this family and we are sending every bit of love to you all today!

There are so many other men in our lives that are wonderful fathers, I couldn't possibly name them all here, but to all of you, we hope you know how much we appreciate you. So, here's a meatloaf. Enjoy!

Hubby's Favorite Meatloaf

Ingredients

• 1 1/12 pounds ground beef
• 1 egg
• 1 onion
• 1/4 cup milk
• 3/4 cup bread crumbs
• 2 tbsp dijon
• 1 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp salt 
• 1/2 tsp pepper
• 1 green pepper
• 4 strips of bacon
• mozzarella cheese 

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350F
2. Cut half the onion and the whole green pepper into long strips and the bacon into small pieces. Saute them in a medium frying pan until the onion and pepper are soft. Set aside.
3. In a large bowl combine ground beef, egg, diced remaining onion, milk, bread crumbs, dijon, soy sauce, salt and pepper. 
4. Press a little more than half the meat mixture into a bread pan, shaping it into the edges forming a well to put the fried peppers, onions and bacon. Sprinkle with half the mozzarella then cover over all that goodness with the remaining meat mixture, press into the edges of the pan and top with cheese.
5. Bake in oven for 50 minutes to and hour or until the meat is cooked through. Slice and serve hot with with garlicky mashed potatoes and maple glazed carrots.

Happy Father's Day to all you wonderful dads out there! 

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