Harley Davidson Cafe Homestyle Meatloaf

1/2 pound bacon
1 cup chopped onion
1 cup chopped celery
3/4 tablespoon black pepper
3/4 tablespoon onion powder
1 1/2 tablespoons dried thyme
2 tablespoons salt
1 1/2 tablespoons dry mustard
1 1/2 tablespoons paprika
3/4 tablespoon garlic powder
1 cup tomato juice
3/4 cup evaporated milk
2 cups dry bread crumbs
4 eggs
5 pounds ground meat

Heat oven to 450 degrees F.

Cook bacon in pan. Remove bacon and chop. Leave drippings in pan and add onion and celery. Saute (but do not brown) onion and celery. Add pepper, onion powder, thyme, salt, mustard, paprika and garlic powder; cook for 10 minutes. Remove from heat; add tomato juice and evaporated milk.

Mix bread crumbs with eggs and add to ground meat. Add spice mixture and bacon to meat and mix gently. Place mixture in 1 large loaf pan or individual loaf pans. Bake until done, about 30 to 40 minutes, or until internal temperature reaches 160 degrees F on a meat or instant-read thermometer.