Halloween Meatloaf

I usually call this Dead Man Meatloaf and made it for the first time this past Halloween.  I have made the meatloaf before, just not in the shape of......well a dead man.

The recipe itself is very simple and absolutely delicious.  I make it all the time in a normal loaf shape.
It is a brown sugar meatloaf, but you can use your own meatloaf recipe and skip to the bottom on shaping and decorating it.  I am including the recipe I use in case you would like to try it.  Please remember since it is a meatloaf, you can add or leave any ingredients out.

Brown Sugar Meatloaf (The way I make it)


What you will need:

1 1/2 lbs lean ground beef
1/4 cup brown sugar (if you like it sweeter use 1/2 cup)
3/4 cup milk
2 eggs
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 small onion, chopped
1/2 green pepper (optional)
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger (optional)
About 1 cup of oatmeal flakes
1/2 cup steak sauce of choice (A1 is what I use)
A drizzle of Worcestershire sauce
1 packet of dry onion soup mix (optional)
Ketchup

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Decide what kind of pan you will be using.  I used a broiler pan for this one because the meatloaf wouldn't fit in a loaf pan shaped this way.  If you do make this meatloaf in a loaf pan, you can put slices of bread on the bottom of the pan under the meatloaf to catch the grease.  This way, the meatloaf isn't so greasy. 

In a mixing bowl, thoroughly mix all ingredients.  If loaf needs more oats, feel free to add them.  Shape a portion of the meat like a normal loaf to make the body of the dead man.  Then add arms and legs roughly in the same shape and attach to the body.  Last, shape a round loaf to make the head. Make sure to keep all body parts even so the meat cooks evenly. 

Bake in the preheated oven until no longer pink in the center.  Cooking times will vary based on how thick the meat is.  (Roughly 35 min - 1 hour). An instant read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 160 degrees F (70 degrees C).

Once baked, pour ketchup on the abdomen and add the eyes and mouth.  You can use olives, pickles, anything you like for decorating the face.  I used pickles and Ketchup for mine.

Return to the oven for 5-10 minutes.  You can serve with a knife impaled in the abdomen for effect.  You can make it creeper by dripping ketchup down the knife.  For younger kids, might want to leave the knife off.   ;)

Enjoy!