Basic Meatloaf

• 1/2 cup finely chopped raw or sauteed vegetables (onions, leeks, peppers, tomatoes, zucchini, mushrooms, etc.)
• 1 cup bread crumbs or other grain filler (par-cooked rice, rolled oats, mashed potatoes or soft bread)
• 1 1/2 pounds lean ground beef
• 1 large egg
• Dried and/or fresh herbs to taste
• Spices or other seasoning to taste
• Salt to taste

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Mix the vegetables with the bread crumbs or other filler.
3. Mix these ingredients thoroughly with the meat.
4. Mix in the egg.
5. Add the seasonings, taking care not to underseason the mixture.
6. If you do not want to taste the mixture raw to check the seasonings, cook a spoonful of it in a nonstick pan for a few minutes until it loses its redness, allow it to cool slightly, then taste.
7. Shape mixture into a loaf and place in shallow baking dish or pack ina four-cup loaf pan.
8. Bake 90 minutes.
9. Serve hot or cooled.

vegetables, bread crumbs, lean ground beef, egg, herbs, salt

Taken from cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/11701 (may not work)