Meatloaf for People who Hate Meatloaf

Meatloaf is SO GROSS.  The word is gross.  The food is gross.  I love beef as much as the next Texan but meatloaf is the fruitcake of the meat genre.

That means, of course, that meatloaf is one of my husband’s favorite foods.  OF COURSE.

And THAT means that I have had to figure out a way to make a meatloaf that isn’t totally vomit inducing so dear old Isaac will not feel neglected and dear old Dara doesn’t have to make two meals at a time.

Meet  (ha!) Dara’s Italiano Meatloaf.  I tried to remove as much gross as I could and add as much yum as possible, while still keeping things relatively loaf-y. 

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs. Ground Beef (I use the leanest I can find)
• 1 small Onion, diced (I use red)
• 1 Bell Pepper, diced (I use any color but green)
• 1 tbs Fresh Basil, chopped (or 1 tsp. dry)
• 1 tbs. Fresh Thyme, chopped (or 1 tsp. dry)
• 1 c Italian Breadcrumbs (or Panko, or whatever you have)
• 1 Egg
• Salt & Pepper
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 pkg. pre-sliced Pepperoni (the big round slices in the packages you get by the deli)
• 1 tsp. Red Pepper Flakes
• 1 pkg. Fresh Mozarella Cheese (I like to get the pre-sliced kind in the cheese case, or just get a ball of  it to slice yourself)
• 1/2  jar of Marinara Sauce (your favorite)

Directions:

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.  Mix together all of the above ingredients EXCEPT for the pepperoni, cheese, and marinara sauce. 

Once completely combined, flatten the meat mixture (I usually use a long baking sheet as a base but you could use your counter or a cutting board).  Press the loaf into a rectangular shape about 8 x 10 inches or a little larger. 

Place slices of pepperoni all over the surface.  I can usually fit at least eight to ten slices.  Top the pepperoni with eight to ten (or more/less) slices of cheese.  VERY CAREFULLY, starting from one end, roll the meat loaf up.  Place it seam side down into a meatloaf pan (you know the ones that are shaped like rectangles with high edges.. you know). 

Bake for twenty-five minutes.  Take it out and top with the marinara sauce and five to eight more slices of cheese.  Place back in the oven and bake for ten minutes more. 

Now you can enjoy a delicious loaf of meat that doesn’t make you gag and doesn’t smell weird and doesn’t have ketchup or anything nasty poured all over it.  Serve with whipped potatoes and a smile because you win again!!

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