Delicious Italian Meatloaf

*Ingredients :

°1 lb ground beef

°1/2 lb mild Italian sausage

°1 onion, finely chopped

°1/2 C. chopped bell pepper (I used orange, that was all I had in the freezer)

°1 C. olive oil

°1 C. Worcestershire sauce

°1 clove garlic

°1/2 t. Oregano

°1/2 t. basil

°1/2 t. parsley

°1 egg, beaten

°3/4 C. Italian breadcrumbs

°2 slices white bread, crumbled

°1 tablespoon of milk

°8 oz. grated mozzarella cheese, reserve 3/4 C. for garnish

°1/4 C. Parmesan cheese

°1 C. marinara sauce, plus 1/2 -3/3 more for garnish

*Directions:

In a small skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. high heat and sauté the onion and bell pepper for 3-4 minutes, remove from the heat. In a large bowl, add the meats, onion and peppers as well as all the remaining ingredients, reserving 3/4 C. of mozzarella cheese for garnish. Now dive in with the best tools that God has given you, your hands and combine it all really well. Once everything is well mixed, place and mold the mixture into a baking dish of your choice. I used my oval portuguese stoneware for ours. Pour 1/2 to 3/4 C. of marinara sauce on top also spread around. Placing in a 400 degree oven about 50 minutes. Remove from the oven and garnish with the remaining cheese and sprinkle some dry basil on top. Return to oven for 10 more minutes. Make sure the meat is not pink before serving, cooking time will vary depending on the thickness of your bread. Mine was about 2″ thick.

Enjoy !