Ketchup...the best part of meatloaf

I really like meatloaf especially the ketchuppy bit on top. I no longer bake my meatloaf in loaf pans but rather freeform on a sheet pan so there is more surface area to put ketchup on. I might be an addict.

This recipe actually makes 3 meatloaves, two to freeze and one to cook and eat tonight. The recipe can also be stuffed into peppers or rolled into meatballs.

8 lbs of ground beef
10 slices of soft white bread
2 eggs
2 15 oz cans petite diced tomatoes in juice
3 small onions peeled and quartered (or grated if you don't own a blender or food processor)
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup worcestershire sauce
2 tsps garlic powder (I do not use fresh garlic as it tends to overwhelm in this recipe)
2 tsps steak seasoning
1 tsp thyme
1 tsp black pepper
Ketchup, lots and lots of ketchup or whatever it is you really like on top of your meatloaf

Optional but excruciatingly yummy
3 8 oz packages sliced mushrooms seasoned with salt and pepper and sauteed in 1/4 cup butter then cooled

Blender or food processor method:

Add the onion quarters, one can of tomatoes, the juice from the other can of tomatoes (hold onto the tomatoes) the soy sauce, worcestershire, garlic powder, steak seasoning, thyme and pepper to the blender or food proccessor and whirl until onions are pureed.

Place the bread in a large bowl and pour the tomato/onion mixture over. Add the reserved diced tomatoes and smoosh (clean hands work best) until most (or all if you like it that way) of the bread is dissolved and incorporated. Mix in the eggs. Add the ground beef and mix gently but thoroughly.

Hand method:

In a large bowl mix the tomatoes and their juice with the grated onion. Squish to break up the tomatoes even more. Add the soy sauce, worcestershire, garlic powder, steak seasoning, thyme and pepper. Squish more. Add the bread one piece at a time, squish some more, add the eggs, squish, add the meat, squish again but gently.

For both:

Freezer loaves-Line a cookie sheet with aluminum foil and lightly oil. Divide the meat mixture into 3 equal parts set one aside to bake tonight. Make a layer of meatloaf from about 1/3 of an equal part. Spread one third of the mushrooms over this and top with the remaining 2/3. Smooth into a nice loaf. Repeat and place these two in the freezer to freeze solid. Remove from foil, wrap, label and date. Put them back in the freezer otherwise they will thaw and that's not what we're going for, okay?

To bake-Preheat oven to 350. Remove from freezer and whatever you've wrapped it in. Place on a cookie sheet or in a baking pan. Cover with as much ketchup as you possibly can. Bake while still frozen for 1 hour 30 minutes.

Bake tonight loaf-Exactly the same as the freezer loaf except you don't need the foil lined cookie sheet or the freezer. Form the loaf in the pan you plan to bake in, cover with ketchup bake at 350 for 1 hour 15 minutes.