Accompaniment: bottled ketchup-style chili sauce such as Heinz, or ketchup
Directions
Preheat oven to 350°F. Chop onion and mushrooms. Finely chop bell pepper and mince garlic. In a heavy skillet cook onion, mushrooms, bell pepper, garlic, and salt and pepper to taste in butter over moderate heat, stirring, until bell pepper is tender and all liquid given off by mushrooms is evaporated. Transfer vegetables to a bowl and add chuck, pork or veal, bread crumbs, herbs, salt, and spices, stirring until just combined well.
In a shallow baking pan form mixture into an 8 x 4-inch oval loaf and arrange bacon slices lengthwise over top. Bake meat loaf in middle of oven 50 to 60 minutes, or until a meat thermometer inserted in center registers 160°F. Let meat loaf stand 10 minutes before slicing.
