Florentine Meatloaf - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 cup onion, finely chopped
1 garlic clove, large, finely minced
1/2 teaspoon fennel seed
1 (10 ounce) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
1 lb lean ground beef
1/2 lb Italian sausage (hot or sweet)
1 cup ricotta cheese
1/2 cup tomato juice (preferably fresh) or 1/2 cup beef stock
1 large egg
1/2 cup fresh breadcrumb
1/4 cup parmesan cheese, freshly grated
2 tablespoons fresh parsley, minced
2 tablespoons fresh basil, minced
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup marinara sauce (optional)

Preparation

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Heat oil and saute onion, garlic, and fennel seed 2 minutes, stirring constantly.
Combine with the remaining ingredients.
Shape mixture into a log and place in a shallow casserole dish or loaf pan. Top with marinara.
Bake 75 minutes or until the thermometer registers 170 degrees.
Cool 10 minutes, then serve.