Astro's Bark Day - Loafing and Meat Loaf

Today go on over to

• The Adventures of Astro

and wish him a happy Sixth Bark Day!

He's having a cake deprived day of relaxation and fun!

We are so happy to have gotten to know him and his Mom this last year.  They live a few hours north of where I grew up.  I shared my family meatloaf recipe (on the blog back in June of 2017) with her and it was a huge hit, and Astro's Dad asks for it weekly.

Well, last week, I experimented and made a different meatloaf and my husband raved about it.

Pinwheel Meatloaf

1  to 1 and 1/4 pound ground sirloin (the lowest fat of the ground beef)
1/2 cup of Rice Chex, measured out and then crushed in a sandwich bag.
1/4 teaspoon salt-free seasoning (Mrs. Dash is what I used)
a shake of crushed red pepper
a little more than 1/2 teaspoon crushed garlic
1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
a splash of milk (about 2-3 Tablespoons)
1 large egg (if using smaller egg add another Tablespoon of milk)

Mix just until combined and on a baking tray sprayed with a little non stick spray, pat out into a square that's about 1/3 to 1/2 inch thick.

Sprinkle with 3/4  to 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese, an even thin layer that does not go all the way to the edge.

Then gently roll up the meat so you have a pinwheel cheesy thing going on.

Place in crockpot and cover top only with jarred basil pasta sauce.  Cook until inside temp is 160 F. (in my crockpot on low about 4 hours.)

An hour before done remove lid and add another handful of cheese to the top.  Serve with some shredded basil if you like and extra heated pasta sauce.