Meatloaf

*This is another one of my meatloaf recipes.

Loaf ingredients:
2 lbs. ground beef
2 eggs
3 oz. Italian tomato paste (1/2 of 1 small can, save other half for sauce)
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
1/2 cup crushed Ritz crackers
1 small onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, crushed

Sauce:
remaining 1/2 can of tomato paste
1 clove garlic, peeled
1 cup water
1 small onion, chopped
1 small red pepper, seeded, cored and chopped
1/2 tsp freshly ground pepper
1/2 tsp. salt

In a large mixing bowl, mix together all the ingredients for the meatloaf by hand. Place meat mixture into a 9 x 13 inch baking dish and shape into a loaf in the middle of dish, leaving room on all sides.

Place all sauce ingredients in a blender and puree until smooth. Cover the meatloaf with the sauce and allow excess sauce to pool around the meatloaf. Cover pan with aluminum foil - do not touch meat with foil. Bake for 45 minutes, then uncover and bake for 45 minutes longer. Let cool for 15 minutes before serving. Enjoy!