Dutch Girl Hearty Meatloaf

I have always loved meatloaf, one of the standards in my repertoire since I married, it is tasty, easy to put together and has an endless variety of tastes, depending on what you put into it. This recipe is the starting off point to any spin you want in your meat loaf...whether it is to include more veggies for the kids, or to make an elegant dinner version for guests, this is the basis for a successful product.

2-1/2 lbs ground beef-1 part lean 1 part medium ground beef
1/2 lb ground pork
1 teaspoon salt
12 teaspoon pepper
3 tablespoons milk
2 tablespoons each Worcestershire sauce, ketchup
1 teaspoon each dried basil, and parsley
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 small onion minced
1-1/2 cups fine breadcrumbs, seasoned or plain
1/4 cup ketchup

Put the fresh ground meat in a large bowl, the reason for the mixture of meat is to ensure good, moist flavour, most of the fat will be drained off, but it does increase the juiciness of your meatloaf, always a good thing. In a smaller bowl mix the other ingredients except for the 1/4 cup ketchup, mix all well then add to the meat in the large bowl, mixing in lightly so as to not compact the meatloaf too much. Put this mixture onto a rimmed sheet pan, shape into a loaf at least 4-5 inches high by 8-10 inches long, being sure that it is even everywhere so it will cook evenly,cover with the 14 cup ketchup, cover lightly with parchment paper, bake for 1-1/2 to 2 hours in a 350 degree F oven.
Before patting it into a loaf, you can add the following for a different flavour profile than the standard as above:

1/2-2/3 cup shredded veggies,example: carrot, zucchini, summer squash, vegetable marrow, pumpkin, sweet potatoe, rutabaga, parsnip, sweet peppers, hot peppers-(use as you like but only a little as they can over power);

1/2-2/3 cup finely sliced mushrooms, canned mushrooms or rehydrated dry mushrooms;
1/2 cup roasted red pepper, cut into chunks;

Tuck whole peeled garlic cloves into the meatloaf, or baby onions, or whole fresh basil leaves, spinach leaves, pre-cooked kale;
Instead of breadcrumbs, you can use oatmeal, whole wheat flakes or bran flakes/buds to increase the fiber content, or
Substitute 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese in place of 1/2 cup of the bread crumbs;
If you want to add cheese, add in shredded form in center of loaf;
You can also stuff your meatloaf with your favourite sausage,casing removed, whole boiled eggs, small or quartered pre-cooked potatoe, whatever you add will cook at the same time, just place it into the center of the loaf;
Instead of using ketchup to seal the juices in, you can use Barbeque sauce, Heinz 57, HP sauce, or any thick sauce you like, there is another sauce by Grace called Chipotle, which will also be nice, it is a thin layer, so won't interfere with the taste on the whole.