Basic Lean Meat Loaf

Directions

1. 1
   Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
2. 2
   Heat a nonstick skillet, add onion and cook over low heat, stirring, about five minutes, until the onion starts to soften.
3. 3
   Add garlic, stir, and cook over low heat 10 to 15 minutes longer, until onion and garlic start to brown.
4. 4
   Remove from heat.
5. 5
   While the onion and garlic are cooking, put the bread crumbs in a bowl, moisten with half a cup of water and allow to soak.
6. 6
   Put the ground beef in a mixing bowl, the bowl of an electric mixer or a food processor.
7. 7
   Add the egg white, cooked onion and garlic, thyme, sage, vinegar, tomato paste, salt and pepper.
8. 8
   Squeeze out be bread crumbs and add them.
9. 9
   Mix all the ingredients until they are very well blended by hand, with an electric beater or in a food processor.
10. 10
    Pack the mixture into a loaf pan 8 by 4 by 2 inches.
11. 11
    Put in the oven and bake an hour and 15 minutes.
12. 12
    Remove from the oven and pour all the liquid in the pan into a bowl.
13. 13
    Skim off all the fat.
14. 14
    Use the remaining juices as a light sauce for the meat loaf or add them to the tomato sauce.
15. 15
    Serve with tomato sauce if desired, or prepared ketchup.