Best-Ever Meatloaf

By flowerpower3034

Ingredients

• TOPPING:
• 2 eggs
• 2/3 * 2/3 cup milk
• 3 * 3 slices bread, torn
• 1/2 * 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 1/2 * 1/2 cup grated carrot
• 1 * 1 cup (4 ounces) shredded cheddar or part-skim mozzarella cheese
• 1 * 1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley or 1 teaspoon dried parsley
• 1 * 1 teaspoon dried basil, thyme or sage, optional
• 1 * 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 * 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 1-1/2 * 1-1/2 pounds lean ground beef
• *
• 1/2 * 1/2 cup tomato sauce
• 1/2 * 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 * 1 teaspoon prepared mustard

Preparation

Step 1

* In a large bowl, beat eggs. Add milk and bread; let stand until liquid is absorbed. Stir in the onion, carrot, cheese and seasonings. Crumble beef over mixture and mix well.
* Shape into a 7-1/2-in. x 3-1/2-in. x 2-1/2-in. loaf in a shallow baking pan. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 45 minutes.
* Combine the topping ingredients; spoon half of the mixture over meat loaf. Bake 30 minutes longer or until meat is no longer pink and a meat thermometer reads 160°, occasionally spooning remaining topping over loaf. Let stand 10 minutes before serving. Yield: 6 servings.