Old-fashioned "Basic" Meatloaf

Picture and Recipe courtesy of the Food Network and Paula Deen

• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 1/4 teaspoons salt
  
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 1/2 cup chopped bell pepper
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• 8 ounces canned diced tomatoes with juice
  
• 1/2 cup quick-cooking oats

Topping:

• 1/3 cup ketchup
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  
• 1 tablespoon prepared mustard

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

Mix all meatloaf ingredients well and place in a baking dish. Shape into a loaf.

Topping:

Mix ingredients for topping and spread on loaf. Bake for 1 hour.

Michelle's Notes: I don't care for big hunks of veggies in my meatloaf, so I chop my veggies pretty fine. I also usually hate waiting an hour for it to cook, so if I'm in a hurry I put the meatloaf mixture into a muffin tin. Bake at same temp for about 30 minutes (check after 15).