Old-Fashioned Meat Loaf

Heat the oil in a nonstick frying pan over medium heat. Add the onion and carrot. Sauté until the carrot begins to soften and the onion is almost translucent, 4-5 minutes. Add the garlic. Sauté 1 minute. Remove from the heat and cool. Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly oil a 9x5x3-inch loaf pan. Whisk eggs, salt, pepper, thyme, parsley, Worcestershire sauce and catsup in medium bowl to blend. Combine the beef, bread crumbs and cooled vegetable mixture in a large bowl. Add the egg mixture. Using your hands, mix just until blended. Do not overmix or the loaf will be too compact and dry. Gently pat the meat mixture into the prepared pan. Pour the tomato sauce evenly over the top. Bake until meat begins to shrink from the pan sides and instant meat thermometer inserted into center of loaf registers 150°F, about 1 1/4 hours. Transfer pan to a rack. Cool 10 minutes. Cut the meat loaf into thick slices. Using a spatula, transfer slices to warmed plates. Serve warm or cold, accompanied with more tomato sauce, if desired.