Italian Meatloaf

   
    I've only posted sweets so far this week, so I thought a hearty winter meal may be in order!
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Italian Meatloaf

Ingredients:

• 3 eggs
• 2 pounds ground meat (a mixture works best, such as beef and pork). I used 1 pound beef, half pound pork, and half pound venison (deer)
• 1 cup tomato sauce
• 1 tbsp dried basil
• 1 tsp each, oregano, thyme, & garlic powder 
• 1/4 Cup quick oats
• 1/2 Cup Parmesan cheese
• Salt & pepper (a pinch of each)
• 1/2-1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
2. Lightly grease a loaf pan, and line with parchment, leaving overhang "handles".
3. Crack the eggs into a large bowl, then add the rest of the ingredients (minus the shredded mozzarella)
4. Using your hands, work together everything in the bowl. Just get it together nicely, but don't over mix it. 
5. Put meat mixture into the prepared loaf pan, and top with shredded mozzarella.
6. Bake in pre-heated oven for 45-50 minutes, then take out, sprinkle with a little extra oregano, or basil, or thyme, and place a lightly greased sheet of tin foil over the top (to keep the cheese from browning anymore, and it's greased so your cheese doesn't stick), and bake 10 minutes more. 
7. Take meatloaf out, and let it sit for 5-10 minutes before taking it out of the pan and serving it (I like to be able to get it out of the pan to cut it so I'm not scratching my loaf pan with a knife).

    If it seems too greasy (which can happen depending on the meat you use), just pour off some of the grease while it's still in the pan (gently holding the loaf, so it doesn't fall out!).  

 
    I ate mine with a big ol' salad, and called it a meal. I made some g.f. pasta for the kids to have with it, then gave away some of the leftovers to some of my favourite kids (that are not biologically mine) to use for making sandwiches for their lunches the next day. :)  
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   I hope you get a chance to try out this moist, full of Italian flavour meatloaf!    

   Have a great weekend! 
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