The first Feast Recipe was handed down to me by my mother-in-law. As the queen of casseroles, this was an unusual dish for her to bring to the table. However, after taking one bite, I knew why her sons raved about it so much.

I have to say it has turned into a crowd-pleaser at my house as well.  I serve it with the same side dish each time, Italian Stir Fry, and sometimes homemade bread (but usually the pre-packaged stuff from the nearest grocery store bakery.)

Since the purpose of Feast is to allow busy families to prep for dinner earlier in the week as time permits, I will be sharing how I prepare both of these dishes ahead of time so that there is limited cooking time needed on the day of the actual meal. Buon appetito!

Sicilian Meat Roll

Ingredients:
1 ½ lbs of ground round or chuck
1 egg, beaten
¼ cup marinara sauce (or tomato sauce)
1 clove garlic, pressed
1/3 cup Italian breadcrumbs
1 Tbs Italian seasoning
½ tsp. salt
¼ tsp. pepper
4-6 slices of sandwich-sliced ham
1 ½ cups shredded mozzarella

Prep:

1. Mix all ingredients together except the ham and mozzarella. I use my hands to mix because it goes faster.

2. Lay out sheet of plastic wrap approximately 9×13 size. Dump meat mixture on the plastic wrap and press out into a ½ inch thick rectangle being sure to keep the mixture on the plastic wrap.

3. Layer ham slices over the meat layer.

4. Add layer of mozzarella over the ham.

5. Grab one side of the short end of the plastic wrap and begin to roll the meat. Roll from the plastic wrap side until you reach the end. (Think jelly roll, except it’s meat.)

6. Now place the roll into meatloaf pan. Note that the plastic wrap will be on the bottom of the roll. After placing the roll in pan, gently pull the plastic wrap out from under the meat. It should slide fairly easily. Once the wrap is removed, tuck the ends of the roll down to close off the cheese and ham inside. (Check out the very professional video here for a more detailed explanation.)

6. At this point, you can cover with aluminum foil and place in freezer for up to 7 days or in refrigerator overnight.

To Cook:

•  Place in oven at 400° for 1 hour or until internal temperature reaches 160 degrees.

Remember, Feast is all about sharing meals and moments with your family. No matter what you serve, the faces that sit around the table are the most important aspect of any meal.