Sicilian Meat Loaf (Sicily)

Meat

Ingredients

Ground lean beef - 1 pound

Eggs - 2

Egg yolks - 2

Grated caciocavallo cheese - 4 tbsps

Parsley, finely chopped - 2-3 sprigs

Finely chopped marjoram and Thyme (optional) - pinch

Salt and pepper

Freshly grated nutmeg

Lean beef, about 3/4 pound - 1 thin slice

Hard boiled eggs- 2

Caciovallo cheese - 1/4 pound

Fat salt pork - 1

Parma ham - 1 thick slice

Lard - 4 tbsps

Onions, finely chopped - 2

Red wine - 2/3 cup

Tomato sauce (optional) - 2 cups

Put the first 7 ingredients into a large bowl and mix thoroughly until smooth and well blended, adding salt, pepper and nutmeg to taste.

Beat the slice of beef until it is rectangular and make small cuts along the edges to prevent it from curling up when cooking. Slice the hard boiled eggs and cut the remaining cheese, the salt pork and han into strips.

Spread the beef slice with the ground meat mixture, leaving the edges free. Cover with the sliced hard boiled eggs, cheese, ham and salt pork. Roll up the meat and tie it securely.

Melt the lard in a heavy casserole, saute the chopped onions until golden, then the meat roll, turning it until it is brown all over. Add the wine and cook over a moderate heat until it evaporates. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, cover and cook over a moderately low heat for 1 1/2 hours. The meat roll can be served either hot or cold. If hot, serve it smothered with a hot tomato sauce.

Serves 6-8