Posted by kdipaolo - June 4, 2001

Source: Courtesy of Mr. B's Bar & Grill

Nonstick cooking spray
2 1/2 pounds ground beef
2 eggs
1 1/2 ribs celery, diced
1/2 medium yellow onion, diced
1/4 cup chopped green bell pepper
1/2 of an 11.5-ounce can V-8 juice (about 3/4 cup)
1 1/2 cups bread crumbs (see note)
2 tablespoons minced parsley
1 1/2 teaspoons freshly minced garlic
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup shredded Provel cheese
2 1/4 teaspoons ground black pepper
3/4 teaspoon ground cumin
2 1/4 teaspoons onion powder
1 tablespoon dried sweet basil
3/4 teaspoon ground oregano
1 tablespoon salt

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 9 x 13-inch glass baking pan with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.

Place ground beef in a large mixing bowl. Add celery, onion, green bell pepper, V-8 juice, bread crumbs, parsley, garlic, cheeses, black pepper, cumin, onion powder, basil, oregano and salt.

Knead mixture until ingredients are well-blended. Shape into a loaf.

Set loaf into prepared pan. Add water surrounding loaf, enough to reach one-fourth of the way up the sides of the pan.

Bake meatloaf for 45 minutes to 1 hour or until done.

NOTE: Mr. B's uses unseasoned bread crumbs made by grinding up dried pieces of French or Italian bread. Home cooks who don't own a grinder can make crumbs from dried bread using a blender or a grater or substitute store bought crumbs.