Cop's Meatloaf

Back in 1994, my wife worked for the Greater Minneapolis Convention and Visitors Association. She had a co-worker, John Hennessey, a former member of the Minneapolis Police Department. He knew I loved to cook and shared his own special meatloaf recipe with me. It's called Cop's Meatloaf and I've been making it for 16 years. (Note: Do not even think about making this in a traditional loaf pan. You will end up with nothing but a soggy mess. The "Free Form Loaf Pan" I  show below will drain all of the grease away.)

Ingredients
1 1/2 pounds hamburger
1 1/2 pounds hot Italian Sausage
2 eggs, beaten
1 1/2 cups of bread cubes (I use sage and onion stuffing)
1 small onion, chopped
1 cup of tomato sauce
1/2 cup of Parmesan cheese
6 cloves of garlic, minced
1 teaspoon each of salt, pepper and Italian Seasoning

Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

2. Create a "Free Form Loaf Pan".  Fold heavy-duty aluminum foil to form a 10 by 8-inch rectangle. Center the foil on a metal cooling rack and place the rack over a rimmed baking sheet. Poke holes in the foil with a skewer (about half an inch apart). Spray the foil with nonstick cooking spray.

3. In a large bowl, combine all ingredients. Mix thoroughly.
4. Create a loaf on top of your "Free Form Loaf Pan".

5. Bake for 90 minutes. Let cool for 10 minutes and then slice and serve. My boys' favorite side with this dish is Tater Tots.

Wine pairing: Zinfandel