John's Italian Meatloaf

This is another recipe that I got out of a local fundraising cookbook, Southern Traditions. The pepperoni and cheese give it a little different twist. I have even used garlic bologna and it is still great.

• Ready In: 1 hr 15 mins
• Serves: 6-8

Ingredients

• 1  lb ground beef
• 2  teaspoons butter
• 1  cup  minced onion
• 1  tablespoon  chopped garlic
• 1⁄2 cup green pepper
• 2  eggs
• 1  cup  breadcrumbs, plus, depending on how wet the mix becomes
• 1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste, use 1/2 with the meat mix, save the remaining for basting
•  honey
•  salt and pepper
• 1 (3 1/2ounce) package  sliced  pepperoni
• 2  cups mozzarella cheese

Directions

1. Mix first 10 ingredients in a bowl.
2. Pat mixture into a rectangle about 1/2 inch think, on wax paper.
3. Cover the meat rectangle with sliced pepperoni, be sure they are touching each other.
4. Cover the pepperoni with a Mozzarella cheese.
5. Slowly roll the mix into a "jelly roll" form, peeling away the wax paper as you roll it together.
6. Seal the edge and ends with you fingers to hold in the cheese.
7. Place in a baking pan.
8. Mix the remaining paste with some honey and spread about 1/2 over the top of the loaf.
9. Bake at 350°F for 1 hour.
10. During the last 10 minutes of baking, spread the remaining tomato paste/honey mixture on top.
11. Remove and let stand at least 10 minutes before slicing and serving.