stuffed meat loaf w/spinach tomatoes & mozzarella

How To Make stuffed meat loaf w/spinach tomatoes & mozzarella

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  1

  Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Add 1 tablespoon each butter & oil to a large pot or skillet, and leave on stove top till needed.
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  2

  Drain 1 can of diced tomatoes of most of the liquid, but leave some so it can help steam the spinach when added to the skillet.
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  3

  Heat oil and butter in skillet over medium high heat.
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  4

  Add slightly drained tomatoes to skillet
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  5

  Then add spinach to skillet and stir to mix.
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  6

  Cover with lid, and allow steam to accumulate, so spinach can wilt down.
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  7

  It should look like this when wilted.
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  8

  Remove skillet from heat and add spinach mixture to a strainer, and drain as much excess liquid as possible, allow to sit and continue to drain as it cools down, while you prepare the ground beef.
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  9

  Add the ground beef to a large bowl.
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  10

  Add Panko bread crumbs, eggs, chopped onion and cumin to ground beef.
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  11

  Empty both packages of onion soup mix into a 2 cup measure.
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  12

  Then add enough evaporated milk to make 1 cup. Stir to blend.
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  13

  Pour over ground beef mixture. Stir gently to mix together.
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  14

  Line a long shallow pan with a double layer of aluminum foil. Spray with non stick cooking spray. Add the meat loaf to the center of pan, then pat down shaping as close to a rectangle as you can. PRESS THE CENTER OF THE MEAT DOWN LOWER THAN THE OUTER EDGE, CREATING A SLIGHT WELL, TO HOLD THE SPINACH MIXTURE.
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  15

  NOW SQUEEZE OUT most OF THE LIQUID from the spinach and tomato mixture . Add to the well in the center of the meat.
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  16

  Top the spinach with the fresh mozzarella cheese slices.
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  17

  Now using the outer edge of the foil, lift foil UP AND OVER TO THE CENTER OF THE CHEESE AS POSSIBLE, THEN LIFT THE OPPOSITE SIDE AND DO THE SAME THING. Bring both ends up to meet the sides then gently press the meat together till all of the cheese is completely cover in the meat layer. Shape into a loaf as much as possible.
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  18

  Now cover the loaf with the slices of smoked bacon. Place pan in center of oven in preheated 375 degrees F. oven. Bake for 15 minutes. Then REDUCE OVEN TO 350 DEGREES F. AND CONTINUE TO BAKE FOR 40 MINUTES.
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  19

  After the 40 minutes has elapsed brush the top of the meat loaf with Heinz catsup, and sprinkle the raw sugar over the top of the catsup, return to oven and continue to bake for an additional 30 minutes.
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  20

  Remove from oven and allow to sit and cool about 10 minutes before slicing to serve.
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  21

  Slice and serve, I used a spatula to lift the slices from the pan. Serve with you favorite side items. Enjoy
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