Cooking for Zo

Although I named this "Campana Meat Loaf" is not a recipe of Zo's family. Their family name means Bell and this is a bell pepper meat loaf so I decided why not name it with her family name! Maybe that is why I hear bells whenever I see her... or I could just be crazy... about her! I pondered about calling it an inside out stuffed bell pepper... but that really just seemed dumb. I like this name way better and hope you enjoy this recipe!

Ingredients:

1 lb Angus ground beef

2 slices of deli smoked bacon

2 eggs

4 oz smoked sharp cheddar (shredded)

1 red sweet vine mini pepper (diced)

1 yellow sweet vine mini pepper (diced)

1 orange sweet vine mini pepper (diced)

1/2 of a green bell pepper (chopped)

1/4 of a red onion (chopped)

1/3 cup Italian bread crumbs

1/2 tsp smoked paprika

1 tsp garlic powder

1/4-1/2 tsp Cayenne

1 tsp fresh Italian parsley (diced)

fresh crack pepper (to taste)

Kosher salt (to taste)

3 tbsp medium dark beer (I used Red Hook)

2-3 tbsp sun-dried tomato pesto.

1/2 tsp butter

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Combine all ingredients except pesto in a large mixing bowl and fold by hand until mixed evenly. Spread out a sheet of wax paper, form mixture into a loaf and place into a buttered loaf pan. Spread pesto over the top of the loaf and bake for 45 minutes. Remove from oven and let sit for 3-5 minutes or until cool enough to serve.