Preheat oven to 450° F.
Cook bacon in pan. Remove bacon and chop. Leave drippings in pan and add onion and celery. Sauté (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° F on a meat or instant-read thermometer.
Makes: 4