Mini Italian Meatloafs with Three Cheese Pasta

Ingredients:

1 1/3 pounds ground sirloin (I use turkey)
1 large egg, beaten
2/3 cup Italian bread crumbs, a couple of handfuls
1/4 cup grated Parmigiano, plus 1/2 cup
1/2 small red bell pepper, chopped
1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
4 cloves garlic, chopped
3 tablespoons tomato paste
Salt and pepper
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 pound corkscrew shaped pasta with lines (cavatappi) or small shell pasta
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoon all-purpose flour
2 cups milk
2 cups shredded sharp Cheddar
1/2 cup shredded asiago cheese
1 teaspoon coarse black pepper
1/2 cup Italian bread crumbs
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 ketchup
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 tablespoon mustard

Directions:

Put a large pot of water on to boil for pasta. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.

Place meat in a bowl. Make a well in meat. Fill well with egg, bread crumbs, 1/4 cup cheese, peppers, onions, garlic, tomato paste, salt and pepper. Mix meat and breading and form 4 individual oval meat loaves, 1-inch thick. Combine ketchup, brown sugar and mustard. Coat loaves with ketchup mixture and arrange on a baking sheet. Roast 18 to 20 minutes (I find that take longer so check doneness by cutting into one of them especially if you use turkey).

When the pasta water boils, salt water and add pasta. Cook until slightly undercooked – pasta will continue to cook when combined with cheese sauce.

Melt butter in a saucepan and add flour. Whisk in milk. Bring to a bubble. Thicken milk, 2 to 3 minutes. Add cheeses: Cheddar, asiago, 1/2 cup Parmesan and black pepper. Stir to melt cheeses. Drain pasta and combine with melted cheese sauce and transfer to a baking dish or casserole. Place bread crumbs in a bowl and add extra-virgin olive oil. Top pasta with bread crumbs. Place under a broiler and brown bread crumbs. Serve cheese and pasta alongside meat loaf.

Makes 4 loaves ... I usually double meatloaf recipe.