A Traditional Italian Family Meal, Made With Love!
When my Daddy was still alive (and healthy) he and my step-mom, Lisa loved to cook together. One thing they loved making together which I really loved eating together was a traditional Italian pasta meal with sauce and meatballs...plain and simple! They were always delicious and I mean like "Little Italy" delicious! Daddy and Lisa said it was because they were made with love and so they called them "Love Meatballs".
I don't know about you but...i love it! ;-)
Lisa and I got together about 2 weeks ago now and she showed me the love - meatballs that is! LOL! Anyway, it was a great day and a great meal and I felt Daddy with us the whole time! Now I will attempt to share the love with you. However, as is often the case in a "traditional" kitchen there are no measurements for this ~ You eye-ball it! So good luck! But I will at least list the ingredients and basic instructions - mostly to drill it into my own head. (-:
Sauce Ingredients:
2 28 oz. cans kitchen ready tomatoes
3 cans tomato paste
1 medium/large onion, minced
garlic, minced
chopped fresh basil, to taste
olive oil
sugar
Instructions:
Add a heavy coat of oil to a large pot or Dutch oven and heat over a medium flame. Add the onions to the hot oil, sauté lightly then add garlic and continue to sauté until both are golden. Then add the paste and brown it until thick and kind of clumpy. Add a little sugar to cut the acidity of the tomatoes, I think about 1-2 Tbs. Then add the kitchen ready tomatoes and one paste can-full of water. Simmer until heated through - bubbly and delicious. ;-)
Love Meatball Ingredients:
2+lbs ground beef (Daddy and Lisa say "more fat = more flavor" but you can make your own call IMO)
3 eggs, lightly beaten
Italian bread crumbs
add the following items to the breadcrumbs to taste:
salt
pepper
grated cheese
garlic and onion powders
water
milk
Instructions:
OK this is where it gets really hard to know how much. I'll have to play around a bit and let you know how I do in my first few solo attempts! ;-) Wish me luck!
Anyway, let the meat come to room temp. (so you don't freeze your hands off) and add to a large mixing bowl. Combine seasonings with the breadcrumbs and add to the meat along with the eggs mixing well with your hands. Add a splash each of water and milk (best to go slowly) until the meat mixture is moist and sticky but not too wet. Be careful not to over mix. Form into approximately 20 love meatballs balls. Fry'em in olive oil until browned on all sides and then simmer in sauce until moist and delicious! Mangia!
Please note: it is essential to serve with traditional scali bread or you may wake up with a stallion head in your bed the next day! :D
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2 cents from my mom:
ReplyDeleteI find the idea of letting the ground beef come to room temp a little scary. The germs multiply fast in ground meat. If your hands are sensitive try using your Kichenaide mixer with the paddle. It's very fast too. I seem to recall about 30 seconds should do it. As you said, you don't want to over-mix. A tip on forming the meatballs (or burgers for that matter) if the mixture is sticking to your hands, periodically moisten them with water. While I definately use EVO in the sauce, I brown the meatballs in a non-stick pan without oil.
Happy Dining! -Mom