Yeah, yeah, yeah…I know Valentine’s Day was last week. And here’s what we had for dinner. A Love Loaf!
See what I mean?
Don’t limit this dish to once a year. Share the love on birthdays, anniversaries, Thursdays…a real meatloaf fan will appreciate this anytime!
It was so good, I forgot to take a picture of it after it was cooked! But I’m sure you get the idea. My family loved it, and the leftovers were appreciated too 🙂
Love Loaf (aka Pioneer Woman’s Favorite Meatloaf)
slightly adapted from The Pioneer Woman
1 cup whole milk
6 slices white bread (I used white and whole wheat)
2 pounds ground beef
3/4 cup grated Pecorino Romano cheese
salt and pepper
1/3 cup minced fresh parsley
4 eggs, beaten
10 slices bacon
for the sauce:
1 1/2 cups ketchup
1/3 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon dry mustard
a few shakes of hot sauce
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Put bread in a bowl and pour milk over it. Let soak for several minutes.
Place beef, bread and milk, cheese, salt, pepper and parsley in a big bowl. Add eggs and mix with hands until well combined. Line the bottom of a broiler pan with foil, and place meat on top of the slotted part. Form in the shape of a heart. Lay bacon on top, tucking in ends. Cut pieces to fit the top part of the heart.
Combine all sauce ingredients in a bowl. Cover loaf with 1/3 of the sauce. Spread evenly.
Bake for 45 minutes, remove from oven and cover with another 1/3 of sauce. Bake another 15 minutes. Slice and serve with remaining sauce.
Serves an army!