Lasher's Restaurant Cranberry Meatloaf

At Lasher's, the meatloaf is served with a veal demiglace. You can purchase demiglace from well-stocked supermarkets or make a gravy to serve with this, if you desire.

1 small onion, coarsely chopped
1 small carrot, coarsely chopped
2 cups dried bread crumbs
1/4 cup chopped parsley
1 1/2 tablespoons dried basil
1 1/2 tablespoons dried thyme
1 tablespoon freshly ground pepper
3 tablespoons chopped garlic
3 eggs, beaten
1 cup milk
Salt
2 tablespoons tomato paste
4 pounds 20% fat ground beef
Nonstick cooking spray
1 1/2 cups canned cranberry sauce
1 1/2 cupsbrown sugar, packed

Combine onion, carrot, bread crumbs, parsley, basil, thyme, pepper, garlic, eggs, milk, salt to taste, tomato paste and beef and mix until thoroughly incorporated.

Spoon meat mixture into 2 greased 9 x 5-inch loaf pans, dividing evenly. Do not tightly pack meat into pans. Smooth tops.

Mix cranberry sauce with brown sugar until lumps are eliminated. Spread over loaves. Bake at 350 degrees F until done, 45 to 55 minutes.

Yields 10 to 12 servings.

Each of 12 servings: 654 calories; 295 mg sodium; 162 mg cholesterol; 33 grams fat; 64 grams carbohydrates; 25 grams protein; 1.75 grams fiber

Source: Ray Lasher, owner, Lasher's Restaurant - Long Beach, California