Dinner & A Book

From the book: The Best Cook in the World by Rick Bragg

• 6-8 slices of white bread
• 1 ½ lbs of ground beef, the cheaper and fattier the better
• 1 large white onion
• 1 green bell pepper
• 1 tsp of black pepper
• ¼ tsp of minced garlic or garlic powder
• 1 pinch chili powder (no more)
• 2 tbsp of tomato paste
• 1 tbsp lard or bacon grease

Directions

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
2. Tear the white bread into pieces, each slice into about four pieces, to make it easier to work with the ground beef.
3. In a large bowl, use your hands to work the pieces of soft bread thoroughly into the ground beef, until it is hard to tell them apart.
4. Then add the onion, pepper, dry spices, and 1 tbsp of tomato pase, and work them thoroughly. Form a round loaf, and place in an uncovered cast-iron skillit that has been greased with lard, bacon grease, or a little cooking oil. Spread the remaining tablespoon of tomato paste on top.
5. Bake for at least 1 hour. The top should be crispy.