Spaghetti and Meat Balls

Picture used from the Internet -- we ate all of ours before
I got the camera out! Oops!

I've always wanted to try to make meatballs.

That sounds so "Italian!"

Words like:

"Ciao!"
"Italiano!"
"Buon appetito!"
"Grazie"

and

"Meatballs!"

When we had friends for dinner, I decided that would be the time to try something new! (Actually, if you're brave enough to do it -- when you're having friends for dinner really is a good time to try a new recipe!)

The meatballs did take a bit more time, but it was well worth the effort!

So -- here's the "ricetta!" (That's Italian for recipe!)

Spaghetti and Meatballs

Sauce*

2 cans Italian style stewed tomatoes

1 - 8oz can tomato sauce

1/2 tomato sauce can of water

1 can tomato paste

1/4 cup of sugar

2 TBSP Italian seasoning

1 small onion, chopped

Place the above ingredients in a crock pot and cover. Set on low for 6-8 hours (or high if you're needing it in a hurry!).

Meatballs

1 pound ground beef

1 egg

1/4 cup milk

1/2 cup bread crumbs

1/2 tsp. salt

1 tsp. oregano

1/2 tsp. ground pepper

1/2 tsp. garlic powder

Place all ingredients in a large bowl, and mix with your hands until well incorporated. Using a scoop or melon baller, scoop the meat into balls, rolling in your hand to make the shape and size uniform. Place uncooked meatballs on a foil lined baking sheet and refrigerate until ready to cook.

Prior to placing in the sauce, I would suggest that you brown the meatballs. I chose to brown them in a large dutch oven, but you can do so in the oven. Simply brown the meatballs, not necessarily cooking them thoroughly.

Once the meatballs are browned, either place them in the crockpot, with the sauce, allowing them finish cooking, or pour the slow-cooked sauce over the meatballs in large dutch oven, and allow to simmer, covered, on low until ready to serve. The latter was how I completed cooking the sauce/meatballs.

*This is a fabulous recipe to double and freeze part of it, for a quick meal on a busy night or to share with a friend in need.

Also, this is easily made into a vegetarian meal!

Comments

Charleston's Style Potato Soup

Love Charleston's! Love everything I ever eat at Charleston's. Love the blackened fish sandwich, which isn't listed on the menu but you can still order it, with glazed carrots. Love the carrots! Love the chicken fingers; the best there are! I rarely order them -- because it's not a healthy choice, but oh boy! They're delish! Love the honey glazed croissant. L.O.V.E! Love the pork chops with smashed potatoes and glazed carrots. Love the potato soup! Seriously adore it! It's thick. It's simple. It's delicious! We don't have a Charleston's where we live. Boo hoo! Here's a close replica of Charleston's baked potato soup. I found it at www.tastebook.com I made some adjustments to the recipe. Not because I think I "know," but because I didn't have everything on hand nor can my sweet girl cherub have some of the ingredients. I made it and didn't tell my family what it was su...

Neiman Marcus' Chicken Tortilla Soup

I've been to eat at Neiman Marcus one time. It was really good! "Everyone" talks about the Neiman Marcus cafe and the things they love from there. Because I've only been once, my variety of selection is limited! However, I have had lunch with friends that serve this Neiman Marcus soup recipe. It is so delicious that I wanted to pass it along to you! If your weather is like our weather, one day you're making soup and the next your grilling out! But because these are simple ingredients, you'll be able to throw it together in a moments notice! Neiman Marcus' Chicken Tortilla Soup 3-4 chicken breasts; cooked and shredded (or whole chicken; cooked & shredded) olive oil 1 c onion, chopped 1 c bell pepper, chopped 1 c celery, chopped 1 c carrots, chopped 1/2 T minced garlic 2 t cumin 2 t coriander 1 t paprika 1 t red chili powder 1 T oregano 1/2 t cayenne (adjust to your taste) 1 28-oz can diced to...

"Hosaf" (Dried Fruit Compote)

I've made reference to our trip last Summer to different European countries. My prized souvenirs are cookbooks from each country. I'm not sure, of the 4 cookbooks, which is my favorite, but I surely enjoy the one I purchased while in Greece. I'll tell the quick story: We were in an open air market in Greece, searching through antiques and junk. Along the perimeter of where we were shopping were business. In typical European fashion, outside one of the restaurants was a young man leaning against the doorframe, as if to summon customers into his restaurant. When he heard our English, he asked where we were from, as he had studied in the States when he was in school. That question led to a great conversation and he invited us into the restaurant which he and his mother owned. We sampled all sorts of incredible foods that afternoon and when I told him that I would love to have a cookbook because of the great experience we had just had, he showed me the co...

A Proverbs 31 Kind of Day

Search This Blog