Mark Bittman’s Famous Meatloaf Recipe

1/2 cup milk

2 pounds mixed ground meats: beef , veal, lamb , and/or pork

1 egg, lightly beaten

1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, optional

1/4 cup minced fresh parsley leaves

1/2 teaspoon minced garlic Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

3 slices bacon optional but good, especially if the meat is very lean What's Next:

1. Preheat the oven to

350. Soak the bread crumbs in the milk until the milk is absorbed, about 5 minutes.

2. Mix together all ingredients except bacon. Shape the meat into a loaf in a baking pan; top with bacon if you like. Bake

45 to 60 minutes, basting occasionally with rendered pan juices. When done, meat loaf will be lightly browned and firm, and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center of a meat loaf will read

160 F, cook for 1 hr. Eat well & Laugh often! Tweet