Slow Cooker Italian Meat Loaf with Sausage

• 1 cup crustless fresh bread cubes
• 1/2 cup milk
• 2 pounds ground beef chuck
• 1 pound sweet Italian fennel sausage, casings removed
• 3 large eggs, lightly beaten
• 3 tablespoons freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
• 1 cup fresh ricotta cheese
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 medium shallot, minced
• 1/4 cup chopped parsley
• 1 tablespoon kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• Extra-virgin olive oil, for drizzling
• 1/4 cup dry white wine
• 1/2 cup beef broth (not low-sodium)
• 1 pound mushrooms, thinly sliced
• 1/3 cup heavy cream

1. Preheat the broiler.
2. In a small bowl, cover the bread cubes with the milk and let stand until the milk is absorbed, about 5 minutes.
3. In a large bowl, mix the beef chuck with the sausage.
4. Add the milk-soaked bread and the eggs, grated cheese, ricotta, garlic, shallot, parsley, salt and pepper and mix thoroughly.
5. On a large rimmed baking sheet, form the mixture into a 10-by-6-inch meat loaf.
6. Drizzle the top with olive oil and rub the oil over the meat loaf.
7. Broil about 6 inches from the heat for about 5 minutes, until richly browned.
8. Pour the wine and beef broth into a large slow cooker.
9. Using 2 long spatulas, transfer the meat loaf to the cooker.
10. Cover and cook on high heat for 1 hour.
11. Reduce the heat to low and cook for another hour.
12. Add the mushrooms and cream and cook for 1 hour and 30 minutes longer, until an instant-read thermometer inserted in the center of the meat loaf registers 165 to 170.
13. With the same 2 spatulas, transfer the meat loaf to a platter.
14. Pour the cooking liquid into a glass measuring cup and skim off the fat.
15. In a blender, combine half of the mushrooms with the cooking liquid and puree.
16. Transfer the gravy to a sauceboat and stir in the remaining mushrooms.
17. Slice the meat loaf and serve with the mushroom gravy.

bread cubes, milk, ground beef chuck, sausage, eggs, cheese, fresh ricotta cheese, garlic, shallot, parsley, kosher salt, freshly ground black pepper, extravirgin olive oil, white wine, beef broth, mushrooms, heavy cream

Taken from www.foodandwine.com/recipes/slow-cooker-italian-meat-loaf-with-sausage (may not work)