Parmesan cheese and tomato sauce are both good sources of umami, the meaty or savory flavor that is the secret ingredient in MSG (monosodium glutamate).

• In a large bowl, combine all the ingredients. For the tomato sauce, add ¾ cup and then add the remaining 2 tablespoons of sauce if needed.

• Shape into a loaf and place in a microwave-safe casserole dish. Cover with microwave-safe wax paper.

• Microwave on high heat for 15 minutes, 5 minutes at a time, rotating the dish a quarter turn between each cooking period. If the meat loaf is not cooked after 15 minutes, continue to cook for 1 minute at a time until done. (Total cooking time should be about 15 minutes.) The meat loaf is cooked when the internal temperature reaches 160°F.

• Let stand for 5 minutes

• Pour any fat off the dish and serve.

Speedy Meat Loaf Muffins

Looking for an easy way to speed up cooking on nights when you're baking the meat loaf in the oven? Instead of shaping the meat loaf mixture into one big loaf, place individual portions in muffin tins. This reduces baking time and makes serving easy. Better still, leftover muffins can be frozen, making a quick and easy snack or midday meal. Bake the muffins at 350°F. for 25–30 minutes until the muffins are cooked through.