My Meatloaf

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In large skillet heat butter until melted and foaming. Add onions, mushrooms, celery and red bell pepper. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Cook for a few minutes, being careful to not brown. Sprinkle thyme over onion mixture. Add garlic. Cook and stir until onions are tender and translucent. Stir in chopped carrot and remove from heat. Cool completely.

Meanwhile, soak the bread crumbs in the half-and-half.

Beat eggs.

In a large mixing bowl combine meats. Once mixed, combine with the cooled vegetables, bread crumb mixture and eggs. Add the 1-3/4 teaspoons of salt and 1/2 teaspoons of ground black pepper. Using your hands, mix until well blended.

Put this mixture into your baking dish and shape into loaf(s).

For ketchup topping: combine ketchup, brown sugar and vinegar. Spoon over top of meat loaf.

Bake on middle rack for one hour. Let rest for ten minutes before slicing.