Directions:
1. In a medium skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add garlic, onion, and green pepper and saute until onions are soft.
2. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
3. In a large mixing bowl, place ground beef, crushed crackers, Cheddar cheese, taco seasoning, and sauteed onion and green pepper. Mix thoroughly.
4. Press beef mixture into a 9x5 inch loaf pan. Bake in a preheated oven for 45 to 55 minutes or until done. Check with a meat thermometer for doneness. Internal temperature should read 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).
Linda, you left out a key part of the meat loaf, th topping :-)
I like to use a very simple recipe:
Vinegar
Ketchup
Brown sugar
I don't have the specificis on how much to use, but that doesn't really matter. Just dump about a cup of vinegar in a bowl, add a bunch of ketchup until it thickens up to a consistency you like, and then sweeten with brown sugar to taste. I like to coat the meat loaf with this for the last 20-30 minutes of the bake time (uncovered so that it browns).
Thanks Scott
As a variety on meatloaf I use regular meatloaf seasonings and stuff it with sliced deli ham & sliced American cheese.
Mix your meat with the seasonings you like leaving a trench in the middle. Layer it with the ham & cheese. Be sure to cover it with more meatloaf mixture & the ends so the cheese does not melt out.
Linda when I make my meatloaf my family likes this variation, I make a trench in the meatloaf and add a large can of mushrooms stems and pices and close the trench and bake as normal. This makes a nice surprise in each slice. It also adds great flavor.
Steve that was nice of you to post for her. Thanks & thanks spiceangel. I've tried a few different things in mine too. Funny how my family jokes about what's in it this time. LOL