The Cheesecake Factory: Famous Meatloaf Recipe - Todd Wilbur

Yield: 3 or more servings

Ingredients:
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
2 tablespoons minced green bell pepper
2 tablespoons minced red bell pepper
½ cup minced red onion
1⁄3 cup shredded and minced carrot
5 teaspoons minced garlic
3 eggs, beaten
1½ pounds ground sirloin
1 pound ground pork
1 tablespoon minced Italian parsley
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
2 teaspoons salt
1½ teaspoons dried thyme
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon rubbed (ground) sage
½ teaspoon paprika
¾ cup whole milk
¾ cup bread crumbs

Grilled Onions:
1 medium onion, sliced
2 tablespoons butter
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper

MUSHROOM GRAVY
2 tablespoons butter
1 teaspoon minced garlic
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
one 14-ounce can beef broth
(1¾ cups)
1½ cups sliced mushrooms
1 teaspoon minced Italian parsley
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon ground black
pepper
¼ teaspoon dried thyme
¼ teaspoon rubbed (ground)
sage

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

2. Heat up 1 tablespoon of oil in a medium sauté pan over medium/low heat. Sweat (slowly sauté) the minced green and red bell pepper in the oil for 5 minutes. Add the minced onion, carrot, and garlic and cook for an additional 5 minutes. You just want the veggies to soften, not to get browned.

3. Beat the eggs in a large bowl. Add the ground beef, pork, sautéed vegetables, and remaining ingredients except bread crumbs. Mix well with your hands until everything is combined, then work in the bread crumbs a little bit at a time. Press meatloaf into a 9 x 5-inch loaf pan and bake for 1 hour. Remove meatloaf from the oven and cool for 30 minutes. If you cut the meatloaf now a lot the juices will run out, so give it a rest before diving in.

4. As meatloaf rests, make grilled onions by melting butter in a medium sauté pan over medium/low heat. Add onions, salt, and pepper and cook for 20 to 25 minutes, stirring often, until onions are light brown.

5. Make gravy by melting butter over medium/low heat. Add garlic and sauté for 1 minute. Whisk in flour and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, until mixture begins to turn light brown. Add remaining ingredients and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes, until sauce is thick.

6. To prepare meatloaf for serving, preheat broiler to high. Remove meatloaf from the loaf pan and slice it into nine 1-inch thick slices. Arrange slices to be served on a baking sheet and place under the broiler for 2 to 3 minutes, until hot. Place slices of meatloaf on serving plate, spoon gravy over the meatloaf, and then top with grilled onions.



Type: Copycat
Author: Todd Wilbur
Book: "Top Secret Restaurant Recipes"
Recipe Source: http://www.themorningblend.com/recipes/111551979.html