Sicilian Meat Roll

Growing up, whenever the answer to my question of "What's for dinner?" was followed by my mom's answer of "meatloaf", I had to ask the second question- "The kind with the ham and cheese in it?" I don't know what it is, but somehow when you cut into food and find it stuffed with something else, it just makes it more special. Like a surprise. Plus the fact that we are talking about gooey melted cheese oozing out of it, it's just that much better.

What's so "Sicilian" about it, I'm not sure, but I am sure that I'd love it whatever it was called.

Sicilian Meat Roll

2 Beaten Eggs

1/2 c tomato juice

3/4 c soft bread crumbs

2 T snipped parsley

1/2 tsp dried oregano, crushed

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

1 clove garlic, minced

2 lbs ground beef

4 to 6 thinly sliced boiled ham

1 6 oz pkg sliced mozzarella cheese

In a bowl combine eggs and tomato juice. Stir in the bread crumbs, parsley, salt, pepper, oregano, and garlic. Add ground beef, mix well. On waxed paper or foil pat meat to a 10" x 8" rectangle. Arrange ham slices atop meat, leaving a small margin around edges.

Reserve 1 slice cheese, tear up remaining cheese, sprinkle over ham. Starting at short end, carefully roll up meat using wax paper to lift; seal edges and ends. Place roll seam side down in 13x9x2 inch baking pan.

Bake at 350 til done, about 1 1/4 hours, (Center of roll will be pink due to ham) cut reserved cheese slice into 4 triangles, overlap atop meat. Return to oven until cheese melts, about 2 min. Makes 8 servings.

This picture really bothers me. I don't remember my mom's looking like street signage? I can't quite put my finger on what the design makes me think of, but the next time I make this, I might have to update the pictures if I remember.