Meatloaf Surprise

Total Time: 1 hr 15 mins Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 1 hr

Ingredients

• Servings: 6
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 1 small red pepper, cored,deseeded & chopped
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 lb lean ground beef
• 1/2 cup soft breadcrumb
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1/2 teaspoon grated fresh lemon rind
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
• 1 cup short pasta (fusilli, macaroni, etc.)
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 tablespoon flour
• 1 cup milk
• 2 tablespoons half-and-half
• 1 pinch nutmeg
• salt
• pepper
• 2 ounces grated sharp cheddar cheese
• 1 tablespoon freshly grated parmesan cheese

Recipe

• 1 prepare meat mixture: melt butter in pot over medium heat; saute onion, pepper& garlic until onion is translucent- about 4 minutes.
• 2 put meat into a large bowl& mash it with a wooden spoon until it becomes a sticky paste.
• 3 add the fried vegetables, bread crumbs, cayenne, lemon juice, lemon rind& parsley.
• 4 season with salt& pepper, combine well and set aside.
• 5 prepare cheese sauce: melt butter in a pot; stir in flour& cook for 1 minute.
• 6 gradually pour in milk, stirring constsntly.
• 7 stir in cream and season with nutmeg, salt& pepper.
• 8 simmer for 5 minutes to thicken& reduce sauce.
• 9 lower heat, stir in cheeses and stir until melted.
• 10 meanwhile, cook pasta in boiling, salted water until el dente.
• 11 drain well& stir into cheese sauce.
• 12 lightly grease a 2 lb loaf tin.
• 13 spoon in half the meat mixture& level the surface.
• 14 cover with the pasta mixture.
• 15 spoon in the rest of the meat mixture.
• 16 cover with tin foil and bake in preheated 350f oven for 45 minutes.
• 17 remove foil and continue cooking for another 15 minutes.