ROAST MEAT LOAF OR "HEDGEHOG"

Roast Meat Loaf or

Provided by Food Network

Time 2h15m

Yield 10 to 12 servings

Number Of Ingredients 18

8 ounces mushrooms, sliced
Butter
Salt
Freshly ground black pepper
Grated nutmeg
8 ounces chicken livers
1 pound each ground beef, ground pork, ground veal
1 pound sausage meat
1 large onion, grated
3 fat cloves garlic, crushed to a paste
10 juniper berries, crushed
1 teaspoon ground allspice
Fresh thyme sprigs
1 to 2 eggs
8 ounces unsmoked bacon
Bay leaves
Branches of fresh rosemary
Tomato sauce, for serving

Steps:

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
Saute the mushrooms in butter until the juices run, then season with salt and pepper and nutmeg. Reserve.
Remove the sinews from the livers and slice. In a large bowl combine all the ground meats, sausage, livers, onion, garlic, and juniper berries. Add the allspice and thyme leaves. Season with salt and pepper. Beat the eggs and add to the mixture together with the mushrooms. Mix with your hands thoroughly.
Oil a roasting pan and place all the mixture in it, molding it into an oval shape. Adorn with the bacon slices, criss-crossed, tucking the ends under the meat. Strew some bay leaves and branches of rosemary on the top and sides. Cook in the preheated oven for 15 minutes, then lower the heat to 350 degrees and cook for 1 1/2 hours.
When cooked, there will be lots of lovely juices in the bottom of the pan. Save them to flavor soup, stocks, or eggs. Remove the loaf and place on a serving dish. Serve hot or cold with a tomato sauce.
For children, you might like to turn it into a hedgehog by pressing almonds into the meat to create prickles and placing 3 olives to form eyes and a nose. This should be done before the meat goes into the oven.