GOURMET MEATLOAF

Ingredients

• 1 cup fine fresh bread crumbs
• 1/3 cup milk
• 1 medium onion, finely chopped
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 medium celery rib, finely chopped
• 1 medium carrot, finely chopped
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tablespoon cider vinegar
• 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
• 3 slices bacon, chopped
• 1/2 cup dried cherries or pitted prunes, chopped
• 1 1/2 pound ground beef chuck
• 1/2 pound ground pork
• 2 large eggs
• 1/3 cup finely chopped flat-leaf parsley
• 1/2 cup ketchup

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Soak bread crumbs in milk in a large bowl.
3. Meanwhile, cook onion, garlic, celery, and carrot in butter in a large heavy skillet over medium heat, stirring occasionally, 5 minutes.  Cover skillet and reduce heat to low, then cook until carrot is tender, about 5 minutes.  Remove from the heat and stir in Worcestershire sauce, vinegar, allspice, 2 teaspoons salt, and 1 1/2 teaspoons pepper.  Add to bread crumb mixture.
4. Finely chop bacon and cherries or prunes in a food processor, then add to onion mixture along with beef, pork, eggs, and parsley and mix together with your hands.
5. Pack mixture together into a loaf and place in a shallow baking dish.  Spread ketchup over top and bake for approximately 1 1/4 hours.