Not Your Mother's Meatloaf!

Meatloaf

2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil

1/3 cup finely chopped yellow onion

2 cloves garlic, crushed

1/2 cup ketchup

1 Tbsp Worcestershire Sauce

1 Tbsp light brown sugar

1/2 tsp dry mustard

1/4 tsp chili powder

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

1 lb ground beef

1/2 lb ground pork

2 eggs

2 tsp fresh thyme leaves, finely chopped

1 cup panko (Japanese breadcrumbs)

1/4 cup milk

Glaze

1/2 cup ketchup

1 tsp chili powder

1/4 tsp Worcestershire Sauce

1/8 tsp hot sauce

1/4 cup light brown sugar

1 Tbsp unsalted butter, melted

4 slices of bacon

Preheat oven to 350° F.

In a medium skillet set over medium heat, heat the oil and cook the onion and garlic until soft, 5to 7 minutes. Stir in the ketchup, Worcestershire Sauce, 1 Tbsp brown sugar, 1/4 tsp chili powder, and 1/2 tsp dry mustard. Season with salt and pepper and simmer for about 5 minutes.

In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, ground pork, cooked onion and ketchup mixture, eggs, and thyme. Add the panko and milk and mix well.

Lightly grease a loaf pan or baking sheet with 1 Tbsp melted butter.

Make the glaze. In a medium saucepan set over medium heat, combine the ketchup chili powder, Worcestershire Sauce, hot sauce, brown sugar and any butter remaining after lightly greasing the pan. Bring to a simmer and cook for 5 minutes.

Form the meat mixture into a log and place it on the baking sheet or in the loaf pan. Lightly coat the top with some glaze. Lay the bacon slices across the loaf lengthwise with the pieces touching each other.

Place in the oven and bake until the meat is firm, 1 to 1 1/2 hours, depending upon the oven. I tested it with the meat thermometer. The last 15 minutes of baking spread half of the glaze over the top of the bacon and increase the oven temperature to 375° F. Remove from the oven and set aside to cool just a little before slicing. Serve with the remaining glaze.