Italian Meat Loaf - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1 1/2 c. soft bread crumbs
1/2 c. milk
2 lb. ground beef
1 (8 oz.) can tomato sauce
3/4 c. celery, finely chopped
2 Tbsp. parsley, chopped (optional)
1 envelope Good Seasons Italian salad dressing mix
1 egg, slightly beaten
parsley (to garnish)
1 lb. pork sausage links, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 Tbsp. vegetable oil
1 c. finely chopped onion
1/2 c. finely shredded carrots
2 lb. lean ground beef
3 eggs, lightly beaten
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. ground pepper
1/2 tsp. dried thyme leaves
1 tsp. minced peeled garlic

Preparation

In a large, nonstick skillet, fry sausage pieces over moderately high heat for 6 to 7 minutes until lightly browned. Transfer sausage to a large bowl and pour off fat from skillet. In the same skillet, heat oil over moderate heat; add garlic, onion and carrot and cook 2 to 3 minutes, stirring occasionally until onion is soft but not brown.
Add vegetable mixture to sausage; add remaining ingredients and mix well.
Pat mixture into a 9 x 5 x 3-inch loaf pan and bake in a 350\u00b0 oven for 1 hour and 20 minutes.
Let stand in pan 10 minutes before serving or serve cold.