Roasted Vegetable Meatloaf with a Balsamic Glaze.

Unbelievably good.  A warning though, this recipe is only for those with time on their hands.  This meatloaf takes about 3 hours to prepare, but it is so worth it!

Ingredients:
1 T. butter
2 T. LunaOlivo Tuscan dipping Oil
5-6 cloves of garlic (finely chopped)
2 carrots (finely diced or grated)
2 stalks of celery (finely diced)
1/2 medium white onion (finely diced)
1 zucchini (finely diced or grated)
2 large eggs, slightly beaten
2/3 c. parsley (finely chopped)
1 lb. lean hamburger
1 lb. hot jimmy dean sausage
1 c. panko bread crumbs
1/2 c. parmesan cheese (grated)
1/2 c. ketchup
2 T. LunaOlivo Modena Balsamic
1 T. worchestshire sauce
2 t. hot sauce (chalula)
2 T. BBQ sauce

2 T. steak sauce (A1)

Glaze:
1/2 c. ketchup
1/2 c. LunaOlivo Modena Balsamic
1 T. worchestshire sauce
1 T. BBQ sauce
1 T. steak sauce (A1)
1 t. hot sauce (chalula)

* side note, if you don’t have all of these sauces, don’t worry. just remember that the ketchup and balsamic vinegar are the only 2 that you shouldn’t change.

directions:

preheat oven to 400 degrees.

heat the oil and butter in a large saute pan. add the garlic, carrots, celery, onion, and zucchini. saute vegetables until almost soft, about 5 minutes. salt and pepper vegetables, to taste. set aside to cool.

whisk together the eggs and parsley in a large bowl. add the meat, bread crumbs, cheese, sauces, and cooled vegetables. mix until just combined – it’s usually best to do it by hand. [side note: like i said, if you don't have all of the sauces, don't worry. the ketchup and balsamic vinegar are the most important. as for the rest of them, just throw in what you have. those were the sauces that we decided to use, to give it a little extra kick, so feel free to leave some of them out or add some of your own].

mold the meatloaf on a baking sheet. whisk together the ingredients for the glaze, and spread it across the entire meatloaf. cook for 1 to 1 1/4 hours. [use a meat thermometer if you have one].

ps. this recipe makes for delicious leftovers. so to those of you that have ever complained about leftovers or meatloaf as children, your mother just didn’t have the right recipe. no offense to your mother, i’m sure she’s a lovely person.

happy meatloafing!