Mom's Secret Ingredient Meatloaf

My mother made the best meatloaf in town, but would never share her recipe saying it was just a basic meatloaf recipe with a "secret ingredient". Now all MY family and friends beg for this meatloaf, but only my daughter knows the secret ingredient -- now you will too. You will get raves on this one!

• Ready In: 1 hr 5 mins
• Serves: 8

Ingredients

• 2 -2 1⁄2 lbs  ground chuck
• 1  large egg
• 1  cup  finely chopped onion (, or you can use 2-3 Tblp dried onion flakes if the kids object to actually seeing the onion)
• 1  cup milk
• 3  pieces  bread, crumbed in food processor
• 1  teaspoon salt
• 1⁄8 teaspoon pepper
• 1⁄3-1⁄2 cup Heinz Chili Sauce (NO SUBSTITUTION on this ingredient)

• Topping

• 1⁄2 cup catsup
• 1⁄2 cup  shredded American cheese or 1⁄2 cup  shredded mild cheddar cheese or 1⁄2 cup  shredded monterey jack cheese

Directions

1. Mix ground chuck with breadcrumbs.
2. (extra lean works well too).
3. Add salt,pepper and egg.
4. Mixing with you hands now, add the Heinz Chili Sauce and the milk.
5. Seperate the mixture in half and form 2 loaves.
6. They will both fit comfortably in a 13" by 9" pan.
7. Mix the topping together and spread on the top and the sides of the loaves.
8. Cook at 375 for one hour or 400 for 45 minutes.
9. Check for firmness.
10. Let rest for ten minutes before cutting.
11. Tips---------.
12. If you have stale bread you can lay 2 slices under each loaf and it will soak up the grease so your meatloaf is a bit leaner upon serving.
13. Also, you can use the Chili Sauce on top of the meatloaf instead of catsup.
14. This makes it spicier but my mother never did this because it would have given away her"Secret Ingredient" -- and the kids probably will like it better with catsup on top.
15. Enjoy!