3 tablespoons milk

2 tablespoons light olive oil

1 onion, diced

1 carrot, diced

1 large celery rib, diced

1 pat of butter

1 cup button mushrooms, sliced

2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce

Salt and pepper to taste

cup chopped parsley (flat Italian is best)

Preheat the oven to 350F.

In a large bowl, mix together the ground beef, ground pork, eggs, bread crumbs, oats, ketchup, salt, pepper, allspice, nutmeg, mustard, thyme, and milk, and set aside.

Heat the olive oil in a medium skillet and saute the onion, celery, and carrot until tender. Add the vegetables to the meat mixture.

In the same pan, melt the butter and saute the mushrooms with the Worcestershire sauce, seasoning with salt and pepper. Add the mushrooms to the meat mixture, and mix in the parsley.

Pat meat into a 9 5-inch loaf pan and bake for approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes. Serve with home-grown corn, fresh spuds, and a big glass of milk.

By Ellen Hart.

Published by Ballantine Books:.

The Jane Lawless mysteries:.

HALLOWED MURDER.

VITAL LIES.

STAGE FRIGHT.

A KILLING CURE.

A SMALL SACRIFICE.

FAINT PRAISE.

ROBBER'S WINE.

The Sophie Greenway mysteries:.

THIS LITTLE PIGGY WENT TO MURDER.

FOR EVERY EVIL.

THE OLDEST SIN.

MURDER IN THE AIR.

SLICE AND DICE.

DIAL M FOR MEAT LOAF.

end.