Mostly Mom's (Bacon-Wrapped) Meatloaf

Hi friends! So it has been a while since I have added a new recipe to the mix here on delectabelle.com, but the wait is over. (I hope nobody was holding their breath…yipes!) What better way to usher the recipes back in then with a good old-fashioned, family recipe. This particular one was sent to me by my good pal Rich Nofi of Fisher Bay Gourmet down in sunny Rehoboth Beach, DE. If you are ever down in the area, I highly recommend giving it a try. Just make sure that you have about an hour to decide what you would like, because the menu board is outta this world, and everything sounds so equally delicious that you will have trouble deciding which to choose. Oh, and these are healthy portions, so bring your appetite. He is an Italian guy from Long Island, and we Long Islanders don’t mess around when it comes to food.

So, here I bring you Rich’s recipe for home cooked meatloaf. Please note, it is called “Mostly Mom’s Meatloaf,” not “Mom’s Mostly Meatloaf.” That sort of name would call for a whole other story indeed…one that would not come with an ingredients list. Yes, his version sounds much more promising (you had me at bacon), though you may want to hold off on this one until bathing suit season has come to a close. I guess all of those back-to-school commercials have me jumping the gun!

Can’t wait to try his spin on this classic dish! Oh, and try not to envision Will Ferrell in his pajamas and robe, a la Wedding Crashers, yelling “Hey MOM!!!! I said MEATLOAF!!!”

Mostly Mom’s Meatloaf

Contributed by: Rich Nofi, owner of Fisher Bay Gourmet in Rehoboth Beach, DE.

This tasty treat is a traditional favorite, brimming with bold flavors and herbs with a kick.

Ingredients:

3 ½ lbs ground beef
8oz bread crumbs
1 egg
3 tbsp rosemary
½ onion chopped fine
Salt and pepper
2 chipotle peppers in adobe sauce (optional)
8oz ketchup
2 oz honey
2oz BBQ sauce
6 strips bacon

Instructions:

Combine the first 6 ingredients in a large bowl.
Split into two oval shaped pieces and place on a greased pan
Combine the next 4 ingredients in another bowl
Spread the sauce from the bowl on the two loaves
Add the bacon on top of each
Bake covered at 325, approximately twenty minutes
Remove cover and cook for another 10 minutes
Allow the bacon to get cooked to well done, and meat cooked to medium well

NOTE: OVEN TEMPS VARY

Preparation time: 15-20 minute(s)

Cooking time: 30 minute(s)

Diet tags: High protein

Number of servings (yield): 8

Culinary tradition: USA (Traditional)

Variation(s): Try using turkey meat for a lower fat version of this recipe (for both the ground meat and bacon). Note, the taste of turkey meat is slightly different and tends to cook faster due to the reduced fat of the meat, so keep watch over the oven if you go that route. If you use turkey, go for the slightly higher fat content to maintain the taste.