Recipe: Personal Meat Loaves (serves 2)

PERSONAL MEAT LOAVES

1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 tablespoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
10 ounces lean ground meat loaf mix -- (equal parts ground beef, pork and veal)
1/4 cup unseasoned dry bread crumbs
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
1 egg
2 tablespoons hickory smoked barbecue sauce

Heat oven to 350 degrees F.

Heat oil in small skillet over medium heat until hot. Add onion; cook 5 minutes or until softened, stirring frequently.

Add chili powder and cumin; cook 1 minute. Remove from heat; cool 5 minutes.

In medium bowl, combine ground meat, bread crumbs, cilantro, salt, pepper, egg and cooked onion mixture. With hands, mix gently but thoroughly.

Divide mixture in half. Shape each half into free-form loaf about 4 inches long. Place in shallow glass baking dish or pie plate. Spread tops with barbecue sauce. (Recipe can be prepared up to 4 hours ahead. Cover and refrigerate. An additional 5 to 10 minutes baking time may be needed if meat loaf mixture has been refrigerated.)

Bake 35 to 45 minutes or until no longer pink in center.

Servings: 2
Source: Cooking Pleasures Magazine, February/March 2001