Turkey Meatloaf

I forgot to take pictures!

My apologies, but their lack won't change the fact that this recipe turned out quite well. I fixed three pans -- using six pounds of ground turkey -- that fed seventeen people, sent "care" packages home with two and a bit of leftovers home with us.

Of course, I adjusted ingredients upward from the recipe below, which calls for only a pound and a half of ground turkey. There are a couple of good sites on the web that will help adjust for the number of servings needed. There's a decent one at Chef Ben's.

In days gone by I used lean ground beef, but ground turkey is better for us, and works quite well.

1 1/2 pounds ground turkey
1/2 cup fine cracker crumbs - I like Ritz better than saltines
3 tablespoons chopped onions
1/8 teaspoon salt - we use Lawry's Seasoned
Dash of pepper, to taste
1/4 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1/8 teaspoon garlic granules - or one clove pressed
3 tablespoons catsup
1 tablespoon prepared mustard
1 tablespoon brown sugar
2 eggs beaten smoothly
Bacon slices

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Place ingredients except the bacon slices into a large bowl, mixing very well until all combined. Rather than pressing into a loaf pan, I use a 9" x 9" Corning pan for mine, shaping it into a loaf, but leaving room clear around the pan. (Last night I used three differently shaped pan, one 9x13, a Corning one-quart and my 9x9 Corning for the six pounds because we have three different tables -- one that seats eight, one seating six and another that seats four. )

With the loaf in the pan, take about 1/4 cup of catsup and brush on the loaf, then lay bacon strips to cover the surface. Bake for one hour and fifteen minutes. This recipe should serve six and might even leave a piece for a sandwich the next day.

Last night it was accompanied by a potato and three-cheese casserole that another member brought, a spring salad with crunchies, piping hot yeasty rolls and a creamy chocolate caramel cake with a light whipped icing with coconut from three other ladies. I'm hoping for recipes for those, too, to add to this southern comforting meat loaf.

There's nothing quite like a Christian fellowship fun time!