twice the garlic

(photo from here)

Glazed Bacon- Wrapped Meat Loaf

recipe from America's Test Kitchen (with a few slight modifications to how we like things)

Glaze: 

1/2 cup ketchup
1/2 to 1 tbsp sriracha (depending on how spicy you want it)

4 Tbsp Brown Sugar

4 tsp Apple Cider Vinegar

Meat Loaf:

2 tsp olive oil 

1 medium onion, chopped

2 medium cloves garlic, minced (twice the garlic for us please!)

2 large eggs

1/2 tsp dried thyme

1 tsp salt

1.2 tsp fresh cracked pepper

2 tsp Dijon mustard

2 tsp Worcestershire sauce

1 tsp hot sauce 

1/2 cup yogurt or whole milk

1 lb. ground hamburger

1 lb. ground pork (could do half pork, half veal also)

2/3 cup crushed saltine crackers

1/3 cup minced fresh parsley (or 2-3 Tbsp dried)

6-8 ounces bacon (8-12 slices)

Instructions:

1. For the glaze,mix all ingredients in a small saucepan and bring to a simmer. Simmer for 2-3 minutes, set aside.

2. For the meat loaf: Heat oven to 350*. Heat oil in skillet and saute onion and garlic until softened, about 5 minutes. Set aside.

3. In a big bowl, mix eggs with thyme, salt pepper, mustard, Worcestershire, hot sauce, and milk or yogurt. Add meat to the egg mixture along with crackers, parsley, and cooked onions and garlic. Mix together with a fork until evenly blended and meat is not sticking to the bowl. (if it sticks, add milk 1 Tbsp at a time)

4. Turn meat mixture onto a temporary work surface (cutting board). With wet hands, pat mixture into a 9" x 5" loaf shape. Place on a foil lined cookie sheet. Brush with half of the glaze, then arrange bacon slices crosswise over the loaf, overlapping slightly and tucking the ends under the loaf.

5. Bake loaf until bacon is crisp and loaf registers 160*, about 1 hour. Cool 10-15 minutes. While meat loaf is cooling, re-heat remaining glaze and brush some over meat loaf. Slice meat loaf and serve with extra glaze (we made a whole new batch...it was that good.) Serve with a side of Garlic Mashed Potatoes...mmmm.

Gluten Free Tips:
-make sure that the Worcestershire sauce is GF
-use Glutino crackers instead of Saltines