Recipe Time: Italian Meatloaf!

So, I had these croissant sheets left that I had to use... So, I decided to do an old family favorite, Melissa style.

My dad's favorite food was meatloaf. 

Every week we would have meatloaf and on special days, it would be Italian Meatloaf.  Now, my dad always told me it was his special recipe and I always believed him... that was until my mom finally caved.  She finally told me this year (I am 40) that my dad never made the Italian Meatloaf... she did.  But to see us look at him like he was a genius cook was priceless.

So, this recipe in a way is a tribute to my dad.  I cannot believe that he passed away 10 years ago and my mom still kept his secret.  I know he is smiling down on me now as I type this going, "I got you good on this one, sunshine" and I nod, yes dad... you sure did.

Italian Meatloaf

Ingredients:
1 1/2 lb of ground beef (I used 93% lean)
1 cup of marinara sauce (I used a nice chunky kind)
2 eggs
1 envelope of onion soup mix
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 sleeve of saltine crackers crushed

6 slices of mozzarella cheese
1 croissant sheet by Pillsbury

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350

Combine ground beef, 3/4 cup of marinara sauce, eggs, onion soup mix, garlic powder, Worcestershire sauce and crushed crackers together. Make sure it is mixed up well.  Place in loaf pan and spread remaining marinara sauce on top.

Bake meatloaf in oven for 1 hour.

Remove meatloaf and let cool.

Roll out the croissant sheet a bit and place three slices of mozzarella cheese in the center of the sheet.  Tap out meatloaf on top of cheese and add three slices of mozzarella on the bottom of the meatloaf.  Seal the croissant dough around the meatloaf, flip it over and place it in a larger baking dish (coated with butter or Pam).  cut three slices in the top of the bread.

Bake at 375 for 20-25 minutes.

Serve hot.

Not only is it delicious, but it looks purdy! 

Enjoy!