Italian Meatloaf

By Kimi Coupe

Ingredients:

1 yellow onion, diced
1 fire roasted red pepper, diced
olive oil, for sauteing
5 cloves garlic
1 vine-ripened tomato, diced
1 tablespoon dried Italian seasoning
1 egg
3/4 cup tomato sauce
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 + 1/4 pounds ground beef or turkey
1/2 cup Italian seasoned bread crumbs
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese, grated
1 + 1/2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded

Directions:

Heat a skillet with enough oil to cover bottom of pan over medium-low heat, add onion and pepper, saute until tender. Add garlic, saute until fragrant; add tomato and Italian seasoning, saute 3-4 minutes. Set aside to cool.
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a large bowl whisk together egg, 1/3 cup tomato sauce and Worcestershire. Add ground meat, bread crumbs, black pepper, Parmesan and sauteed vegetables. Combine with a fork; mix in 1 cup of mozzarella.
In a large, greased roasting pan form the meat into a loaf. Spread the remaining 1/2 cup sauce over top and sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup mozzarella. Bake about 45 minutes or until no longer pink in the middle. Let set five minutes before serving.

Submitted by Natalie Ring, Finalist in the Favorite Italian Recipe Contest