Instructions: Preheat an oven to 350 degrees. Soak the bread in the stock, then squeeze it dry, reserving the bouillon cube liquid for later. Shred the dampened bread and combine it with the remaining ingredients for the polpettone mixture. Use your hands to distribute the ingredients well.

Now make the frittatine. In a small bowl, beat the egg with the parsley, salt, and pepper. Heat the oil in a 9-inch omelet pan or frying pan. Add half of the egg mixture, allowing it to cover the surface of the pan entirely. When it is set, about 30 seconds, flip it or turn it with a spatula and allow it to set on the reverse side, about 15 seconds. Transfer it to a plate and make the second frittatine. Transfer it to the plate also and allow the frittatine to cool for several minutes.

Meanwhile, scatter the bread crumbs on an approximate 12- by 18-inch work surface. Spread the meat mixture on the crumb covered surface, use your hands to form a rectangle about 12 inches wide, 18 inches long, and not more than 1/2-inch thick (if it is too thick, it will be difficult to roll up). Cover the rectangle with the ham slices, then with the frittatine, laying them side-by-side to cover the whole surface of the meat mixture. Roll it closed lengthwise in jellyroll fashion so that a long, narrow sausage-like loaf is formed.

Place the polpettone in an ungreased baking dish and add half of the reserved bouillon cube liquid to the pan. Place it on the middle rack of the oven and bake for 50 minutes, adding the remaining bouillon cube liquid after 15 minutes. Baste it several times during baking with the pan juices, adding a little more water if the pan juices seem to be drying up - no more than a tablespoon or two, if any, should be necessary. There should be sufficient juice in the baking pan to keep the meatloaf moist, and to guarantee pan juices at serving time.

Fifteen minutes before the meat is cooked, add the wine to the pan. When done, remove the polpettone from the oven and allow it to settle for 15 minutes before cutting it into slices. The wine-fortified pan juices can be drizzled over the slices.

This recipe yields 15 to 18 servings.

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