Magical Hour Meatloaf - This recipe makes a very simple and delicious meatloaf that everyone is sure to enjoy. It is truly Magical.
I totally prefer sunset to sunrise.
I have never really been a morning person. That could largely be due to the fact that I am a night owl by nature and tend to stay up late which makes it very difficult for me to wake up early in the morning and get going. Yes, I am that person at work who is grumpy until after 9:00 A.M. or I have ingested at least two cups of coffee. Knowing this about myself I try to keep my conversations with others to a minimum because I truly cannot be held liable for the words I speak before I am fully awake and ready for the day.
Sunrise has its advantages because it is the beginning of a new day full of new possibilities and the fact that you even wake up in the morning is a wondrous blessing that is unfortunately not given to everyone. So for that reason alone, sunrise is a good thing.
But sunset...sunset is the magic hour. No, seriously it is the magic/golden hour for photography, it is that time when the lighting is softer and everything looks so flattering and shiny. If you have ever taken the time to stop and enjoy a beautiful sunset, which is vibrant and a time when the sky is full of so many beautiful colors, then you already know why I prefer sunset.
Sunset marks the closing of the day and the time when night begins to set in and if you work during the day, then it is also the time in which you return home to your little haven and family.
It is the time in which you also make decisions about what you will have for dinner. Tonight I decided that I would make a meatloaf for my little crew and pair it with what else but some creamy mashed potatoes, and chopped steamed broccoli. Meatloaf is one of those food items that may not have the best reputation and that is probably due to its name ...' meatloaf'. But please don't let that stop you, this can actually be quite delicious and a very filling menu item; not to mention great for leftover sandwiches.
My advice...instead of using breadcrumbs in your meatloaf, give sliced bread a try and I promise you it will totally change all of the negative feelings that you may have about meatloaf.
Magical Hour Meatloaf Ingredients:
Meatloaf:
- 1 cup milk
- 6 slices sandwich bread
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 pound ground pork
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 green bell pepper, diced
- 1 small onion, diced
- ¼ teaspoon seasoned salt
- ¾ teaspoons salt
- black pepper to taste
- ⅓ cup minced (flat-leaf) parsley
- 4 eggs, beaten
Sauce:
- 1-½ cup ketchup
- ⅓ cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon dry mustard
- splash of sriracha or hot sauce
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Place the bread slices in a large bowl and pour milk over them. Allow it to soak in for several minutes.
Place the ground beef, ground pork, milk-soaked bread, Parmesan, onion, bell pepper, seasoned salt, salt, black pepper, and parsley in a large mixing bowl. Pour in beaten eggs. With clean hands, mix the ingredients until well combined.
Form the mixture into a loaf shape on a broiler pan, which will allow the fat to drain. (Line the bottom of the pan with foil to avoid a big mess!)
Make the sauce: add ketchup, brown sugar, mustard, and hot sauce in a mixing bowl. Stir together. Pour ⅓ of the mixture over the uncooked meatloaf. Spread with a spoon.
Bake for 45 minutes, then pour another ⅓ of the sauce over the top.
Bake for another 15 minutes. Slice and serve with remaining sauce.
Serve with mashed potatoes and chopped broccoli for a complete meal.
📖 Recipe
Magical Hour Meatloaf
Ingredients
- Meatloaf:
- 1 cup milk
- 6 slices sandwich bread
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 pound ground pork
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 green bell pepper, diced
- 1 small onion, diced
- ¼ teaspoon seasoned salt
- ¾ teaspoons salt
- black pepper to taste
- ⅓ cup minced (flat-leaf) parsley
- 4 eggs, beaten
- Sauce:
- 1 ½ cups ketchup
- ⅓ cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon dry mustard
- splash of sriracha or hot sauce
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Place the bread slices in a large bowl and pour milk over them. Allow it to soak in for several minutes.
- Place the ground beef, ground pork, milk-soaked bread, Parmesan, onion, bell pepper, seasoned salt, salt, black pepper, and parsley in a large mixing bowl. Pour in beaten eggs. With clean hands, mix the ingredients until well combined.
- Form the mixture into a loaf shape on a broiler pan, which will allow the fat to drain. (Line the bottom of the pan with foil to avoid a big mess!)
- Make the sauce: add ketchup, brown sugar, mustard, and hot sauce in a mixing bowl. Stir together. Pour ⅓ of the mixture over the uncooked meatloaf. Spread with a spoon.
- Bake for 45 minutes, then pour another ⅓ of the sauce over the top.
- Bake for another 15 minutes. Slice and serve with remaining sauce. Serve with mashed potatoes and chopped broccoli for a complete meal.
Nutrition
*All nutritional information is based on third party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe and nutritional value will vary depending on the brands used, measuring methods and portion sizes per household.
Enjoy!
*Recipe adapted from The Pioneer Woman
Allie Mackin
Oh this sounds simply delish!! And great photos too.
Allie of ALLIENYC
admin
Thank you so much Allie!! It was pretty delicious 🙂
Akaleistar
My favorite meatloaf recipe is from The Pioneer Woman, too! Sliced bread really does make a difference.
admin
They really do!! It is the best recipe for meatloaf that I have found.
Tamara
Yum! And your potatoes look great! Nice shots!~
I love that golden hour of photography very much. It can be more challenging to me because my camera will want to correct the white balance but my instinct will tell me to just surrender to the glow.
admin
Thank you so much!!! I feel like I am just now finding my food photography groove and figuring out what works for me...and there is still so much to learn.
Mrs. AOK
Yum! I love meatloaf, the rest of my crew not so much. I do not understand why they do not, I mean they love meatballs. Although, they will eat my meat muffins, which is pretty much mini meatloaves, honestly. 😀
Your pictures are gorgeous!
Thanks for sharing your recipe.
XOXO
admin
Thank you so much! Yea it is kinda the same thing, but I think when put the meat into a 'loaf' it doesn't sound so appealing. Meat Muffins sounds delicious!