I was cooking!

Where was I yesterday, you ask?  I was experimenting!  While visiting the JS and his AT, I stumbled across a recipe for meatloaf.  Yeah, I know.  Meatloaf?  But I happen to be a meatloaf aficionado, not to mention a baconaholic, so when I found the two together?  What else could I do but try it?  I'm glad I did!  It was amazing, both in appearance and in taste.  It is a bit time consumptive when it comes to preparation, but it can all be done ahead of time so if you are entertaining, all you need do is pop it in the oven for an hour, baste it a little and broil it for 3-4 minutes, and you are done.  Well, that is, if meatloaf is the only thing you're having.  I coupled mine with twice baked potatoes (another wonderful do ahead!), the ubiquitous cole slaw, and the second experiment of the day...peppered cheesy baking powder biscuits.  While the meatloaf was amazing, in the eyes and comments of my eaters, the biscuits were outstanding!  They, too, are a bit time consuming, but the recipe is both extremely specific and entertaining.  We ate well.  We had wine.  We laughed, and there was love.  If you happen to have seen the old television series "The A Team", "I love it when a plan comes together!"  As my good friend Floyd says, "keep your fork"!  And know that you are loved!

Cooks Illustrated Meatloaf

Glaze:

1/4 cup bottled barbecue sauce (plus extra for serving)
1 Tbs. cider vinegar
1 Tbs. Worcestershire Sauce
1 Tbs. spicy brown mustard

Meatloaf:

2/3 cup finely crushed Club crackers
12 slices bacon
1 onion, chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 large eggs + 1 egg yolk
3/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
1 1/2 pounds ground beef

Directions:

Lightly spray an 8 /2 X 4 1/2 loaf pan with vegetable spray.  Line it with plastic wrap, pressing into the corners and lining the sides of the pan.  Line pan crosswise with 8 strips of bacon, overlapping as necessary to fit in the pan.  Be sure the bacon extends over the edge of the pan.  Whisk together the glaze ingredients and brush the bacon.
Chop the remaining bacon and onions.  Place in a saute pan and cook together until the onions are soft and translucent--about five minutes.  Add the garlic and cook for about 30 seconds longer.  In a large bowl, combine the remaining ingredients.  Add the bacon and onion mixture.  Carefully place meatloaf into the bacon lined loaf pan.  Pat down to be sure it is evenly divided and fills the corners.  Carefully take the ends of each piece of bacon and pull together to form a cover for the meatloaf.  Place a 14 X 5 piece of aluminum foil over the top, and pierce it 15 times.  Invert the meatloaf onto a wire baking rack and place in the refrigerator until ready to bake.
To bake:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Line a lipped cookie sheet or jelly roll pan with aluminum foil.  Place the baking rack with the meatloaf on top of the pan.  Remove the plastic wrap. Bake for one hour.  Remove from oven and baste with glaze.  Allow to sit while oven heats to broiling.  Replace meatloaf in to broil for 3-4 minutes until bubbly and crusting.  Remove.  Plate and serve!

Biscuits

The biscuit recipe is at http://www.food.com/recipe/savory-cheese-and-herb-biscuits-406757.