This is my very favorite home food recipe. I ask for it whenever mom offers to cook. No one makes meatloaf anymore. Why is that? It is an absolutely delicious meal.
Note from My Mom: "I probably 4 or 5 times the recipe and put it in casserole dishes with or without the topping to freeze before baking (depends if I have tomato soup at the time)"
I have also made the recipe without frying the aromatics first, and just baked the meatloaf a little longer. It was delicious. The baking time is key. If underbaked, it is soggy and crumbly. When baked properly, the topping should be dark around the edges and the loaf releasing from the edges of the casserole dish.