Ingredients :
- 2 tbsp butter or margarine
- 3/4 cup onions, finely chopped
- 1/2 cup red bell pepper, finely chopped
- 1/2 cup celery, finely chopped
- 1/4 cup green onions, finely chopped
- 2 tsp minced garlic
- 1 tbsp Tabasco sauce
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 tsp liquid smoke
- 1/2 cup evaporated milk
- 1/2 cup salsa
- 2 lbs ground beef
- 1/3 lb fresh andouille sausage (optional)
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup fine breadcrumbs
- 2 whole bay leaves
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp ground cayenne pepper
- 1/2 tsp white pepper
- 1/2 tsp ground cumin
- 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1 1/2 tsp dried basil
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp dry mustard
- 1/4 tsp allspice
- 1/2 tsp fresh black pepper
Directions :
Combine the first 11 ingredients in a bowl and set aside
Melt the butter in a 1-quart fry pan over medium heat
Add the onions, celery, bell pepper, green onions, garlic, Tabasco, Worcestershire, liquid smoke and seasoning mix
Sauté until mixture thickens, about 6 minutes
Stir occasionally and scrape the bottom well
Stir in milk and catsup
Continue cooking for another 2 minutes, stirring occasionally
Remove from heat and let cool to room temperature
Remove bay leaves
Place the ground beef in a large mixing bowl
Add the eggs, the cooled mixture, and the breadcrumbs
Mix by hand until thoroughly combined
Put meat mixture into a 5×9″ loaf pan
Bake uncovered in a 350* oven for 25 minutes
Drain off any extra fat at this time
Raise the temperature to 400* and continue cooking until done, about 35 minutes longer
Remove from pan and let sit 5 minutes on wire rack so it will slice easier
Variation: Remove the meat from one Andouille sausage link and mix into ground beef
Remember: You can make sausage by getting ground pork from your butcher and make sausage patties.
