italian meatloaf

tom is a HUGE fan of meatloaf.  i hate meatloaf.  i’m just not a beef fan.  however, my mom learned this trick a long time ago… if you dress up meatloaf to smell like pizza and add cheese, i’ll eat it!   so i created an italian meatloaf all of my very own. 🙂

• 1 lb. lean ground beef
• 1/2 lb. italian sausage
• 3/4 c cracker crumbs
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1/2 med. onion, chopped
• 1/4 tsp salt
• pepper, to taste
• 1/2 tsp oregano
• 1/2 clove garlic, minced
• 1/2 c pizza sauce
• 1/2 med. bell pepper, chopped

filling:

• 1/4 lb. deli ham
• 4 oz. mozzarella cheese, shredded

1. mix the first eleven ingredients together in a large bowl.  reserve half of the sauce.
2. on a large sheet of wax paper, or cookie sheet,  pat meat to a 9.5″ x 13″ rectangle.   arrange a layer of ham on rectangle, cover with half of the shredded cheese leaving a small portion of meatloaf exposed at one end of the rectangle.  roll the meatloaf towards the exposed end.  tightly seal edges and place seam side down in a meatloaf pan.
3. brush top with remaining pizza sauce.
4. bake for 1 hour 15 minutes at 375°.  When ten minutes remain, cover with remaining cheese and finish baking.

enjoy!