honey barbecue meatloaf

Ugh. I had another terrible-horrible-no-good-very-bad-day on Monday.

Monday morning I got to my car to find that it had been broken into. Baltimore life, I suppose. Rear passenger window smashed, GPS gone from the glove compartment. They also took my gym bag (by “gym bag” I mean a plastic grocery bag containing exercise gear) which was sitting on the floor of the back seat because I forgot it was there. Really, Baltimore thugs? You wanted my dirty disgusting gym clothes and my obnoxious lime green sneakers? I hate you.

I’m trying to look on the bright side of it all, though.

First, my roommate Meghan was able to use her connections to get my window replaced for less than half of what Geico quoted me (prior to telling me they wouldn’t cover it). To this mysterious ‘Ricky’- if you’re out there, thank you for my new window on the cheap! I only had to drive around looking ghetto for 24 hours.

Second, my gym clothes must have smelled awful. Especially my favorite magenta sports bra.

Third, although they took one of my Body Pump instructor shirts, it was NOT the ninja suit one. I’ll still be clad in all black for my next class, looking like I just stepped out of the Cobra Kai dojo.

Fourth, the maps in my GPS needed to be updated. HA! Good luck finding your way around with that thing, suckers.

So in keeping with my optimism, sure, this meatloaf is ugly. What meatloaf isn’t? Except when people turn it into cupcakes with mashed potato “frosting,” but that grosses me out. Anyway, ugly but delicious! Every cloud has a silver lining.

Honey Barbecue Meatloaf

slightly adapted from Can You Stay for Dinner

1 lb ground beef (I used 85/15, because they didn’t have 90/10)

1 slice white or wheat bread

2 tbs plus 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce

2 tbs spicy mustard, divided

2 tbs honey, divided

3/4 cup barbecue sauce, divided (I used Sweet Baby Ray’s Honey Barbecue, but you could also make your own!)

1 tsp salt

1 tsp black pepper

Put the slice of bread in a food processor until it becomes crumbs. Or, break it up with your fingers because you don’t want to wash the food processor. Either is fine.

Using your hands, mix the meat, crumbs, 1/2 cup barbecue sauce, 1 tbs honey, 1 tbs mustard, 2 tbs Worcestershire sauce, salt and pepper until just combined. Don’t over-mix!

Form into a loaf and place into a greased baking dish. Don’t use a flat baking sheet- this will cause the meatloaf to dry out while it’s baking.

Combine the remaining 1/4 cup barbecue sauce, 1 tbs honey, 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce, and 1 tbs spicy mustard and spread over the top of the meatloaf.