Company Meatloaf Recipe

1 1/2 pounds ground chuck
1 1/2 cups milk, scalded
1 egg, slightly beaten
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1 small green bell pepper, chopped
1 1/2 cups crushed Ritz or similar crackers
1 tablespoon garlic salt
1 large onion, chopped
1 (10 3/4-ounce) can condensed tomato soup
1 can water

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Spray a 13 x 9-inch baking dish with cooking spray. With your hands, mix together the ground chuck, milk, egg, baking powder, bell pepper, crackers, garlic salt, and onion. Form the meat mixture into a loaf, and place it in the dish. Heat the soup and water to boiling in a saucepan. Pour over the meat loaf. Bake for 10 minutes at 425 degrees, then for 1 hour and 30 minutes at 350 degrees. Baste the meat loaf three times during the baking.

Yield: 8 to 10 servings

Tips From Our Test Kitchen:
After mixing the ingredients and before forming into a loaf, let the mixture stand for a few minutes to allow the crackers absorb some of the liquid.