I grew up fully immersed in the rich culinary culture and history of Mexico and Texas. It took many years for me to realize that there was literally a whole world of food and culture beyond what I knew so well. When it began to dawn on me, I set out to discover what a meal without tortillas, cheese, and Mexican rice would look like. I longed to begin my new education with the most “American” thing I could think of. And, I ask you, what is more American than meat loaf? This is the first recipe that opened my eyes to cooking meat in a completely different way. It’s the same meat loaf I make to this day.
Recipe information
Yield
makes 4 to 6 servings
Ingredients
Preparation
Step 1
Preheat the oven to 350°F. In a large bowl, place the ground beef, oatmeal, milk, egg, onion, garlic, salt, and pepper. Use your hands to mix until well blended.
Step 2
Pack the mixture into a 9 × 5-inch loaf pan and set aside.
Step 3
In a glass measuring cup or small bowl, place the ketchup, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, and mustard. Stir until completely blended.
Step 4
Pour the sauce over the meat loaf. Bake until cooked and bubbling slightly around the edges, about 1 hour. Let stand 5 minutes.
Step 5
If desired, use a spatula to remove the meat loaf from the pan. Cut crosswise and serve.
