I always take the unused part of the bread (the ends, or the last unwanted slice) and blend them up into crumbs and put in a container to freeze. I just keep adding crumbs to that same container so whenever I need crumbs for meatloaf or breaded chicken or anything else that breadcrumbs can be used I always have a healthy supply ready.
I also use a lot of onions, carrots, breadcrumbs (or cracker crumbs) and just about anything to stretch meatloaf. I do like to mix meats also--like beef and seasoned ground pork or any other kind of ground meat. Sometimes instead of milk, I use beer and then make beer glaze or sometimes it will be using milk in the recipe and then a ketchup, brown sugar, mustard glaze.
I love meatloaf as an adult but I hated it as a child. I'm thinking the childhood recipe might have had oats in it or a package of that dry onion soup that just didn't do it for me.
This reminds me that I went out for lunch with my brother and parents on Saturday and Dad ordered meatloaf. It was the sorriest looking meatloaf I have ever seen. He almost needed a chisel to cut through it. I better make my dad a good meatloaf since he did say he likes it a lot. He also wants a butternut squash soup with a kick. Hmm, I'm thinking he needs a few meals.
Alice