Family Favorite Meat Loaf

My family had always had a love/hate relationship with meat loaf - It was one of my husband's favorite meals. I could always count on him being home for lunch the day after we had meat loaf for dinner. He loved his meatloaf sandwiches with mayonnaise and a little ketchup. Our traditional meat loaf dinner consisted of sliced meat loaf - fordhook limas - and macaroni and cheese. My middle daughter loves meat loaf as much as her daddy. After the birth of each child, she requested my meat loaf as her coming home dinner. Her older brother hates it. He would gag at the raw onions and have to leave the table under duress. He is the reason that I went to the Lipton onion soup mix to replace the onions. Baby daughter came along and didn't like meat loaf either. She was the reason for the addition of the macaroni and cheese to the menu, replacing mashed potatoes. This is a very good recipe - Moist with lots of flavor.

Home Style Family Meat Loaf

1 1/2 pounds ground chuck
1 cup crushed saltine crackers
1 egg
1/2 to 3/4 package Lipton Onion soup mix - this takes the place of the salt
1 8 oz can tomato sauce
good sprinkling of ground pepper
(optional) - one 8 oz can of mushrooms
Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour and 15 minutes
Remove from oven and drain off excess fat
Spread ketchup over the top - return to oven for another 10 to 15 minutes -
Let cool before slicing

Now, I'm craving meat loaf - Meat Loaf sandwiches for lunch anyone?

I couldn't get a great photo - so I borrowed one from Pillsbury.com