meatballs + sauce recipe request

[bethie_alane]

hi y'all from georgia... where thank god for the rain and cool weather that makes my allergies seem to go away temporarily haven't posted in awhile, been busy with life, work, and graduate school.....

i'm tired of cooking fancy schmancy dinners although fun, i'm getting tired of it and cooking is being a chore rather than a delight and we are eating way too much fast food junk since neither of us feels like cooking....

i'm looking for some yummy home cooking in the form of meatballs with a light spicy bbq/tomatoe type sauce, preferably both the meatballs and sauce homemade....

any tried and true recipes out there? i've searched some of my fave internet web sites and haven't found anything at all....

thanks in advance
bethie

[dlabrie708]

Well, I have a recipe that I think is pretty good...

Meatballs:

2 lbs. ground beef or turkey [I use ground turkey]
3/4 cup of parmesan cheese [or romano]
1 cup of italian breadcrumb
2 cloves of garlic...minced [or buy it minced in the jar and use 2 tablespoons]
2 eggs
Parsley flakes [I go pretty heavy handed here]
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons of pepper

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and mix well [you will have to get your hands dirty here...lol]. Then shape the meat into medium size meatballs. [should make about 24]. Heat a skillet and fry the meatballs on medium heat until cooked on all sides -- you might need to use 2 skillets to accomodate all the meatballs. [If using ground turkey, you will have to lighly coat the skillet with some olive oil before frying]. *See below for more info.

Sauce:
2 cans of crushed tomatoes
2 cans of tomato paste
Basil
Thyme
Oregano
Mint
Salt
Pepper
Red Pepper Flakes

*Heat the two cans of crushed tomatoes on low to medium low while you are making your meatballs. Sprinkle in pretty generously the following spices: Basil, thyme, oregano, mint, salt, pepper & red pepper flakes. Once the meatballs are cooked, add a can of tomato paste right into the skillet with the meatballs and then fill the can with water twice and add to the skillet as well. I use 2 skillets, so I add the other can of tomato paste to the other skillet with 2 more cans of water and let it simmer for a few mintues while stirring until it mixes smooth. I think this is suppose to help the sauce pick up some of the meatball flavor [I don't know....my Italian friend told me to do this...lol!]

Once the tomato paste is mixed smooth with the meatballs, you can dump the meatballs and paste into the pot with the crushed tomatoes. Now, you can continue to add any additional spices you like... If you want a bbq flavor, maybe you can add some bbq sauce. I really don't think you can ruin this recipe. All sauces are really according to your own taste....so good luck!

Hope you like it!

Lori

[bethie_alane]

tahnks for taking the time to post! will show to boyfriend and see if he approves, looks yummy to me!

Originally posted by dlabrie708
Well, I have a recipe that I think is pretty good...

Meatballs:

2 lbs. ground beef or turkey [I use ground turkey]
3/4 cup of parmesan cheese [or romano]
1 cup of italian breadcrumb
2 cloves of garlic...minced [or buy it minced in the jar and use 2 tablespoons]
2 eggs
Parsley flakes [I go pretty heavy handed here]
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons of pepper

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and mix well [you will have to get your hands dirty here...lol]. Then shape the meat into medium size meatballs. [should make about 24]. Heat a skillet and fry the meatballs on medium heat until cooked on all sides -- you might need to use 2 skillets to accomodate all the meatballs. [If using ground turkey, you will have to lighly coat the skillet with some olive oil before frying]. *See below for more info.

Sauce:
2 cans of crushed tomatoes
2 cans of tomato paste
Basil
Thyme
Oregano
Mint
Salt
Pepper
Red Pepper Flakes

*Heat the two cans of crushed tomatoes on low to medium low while you are making your meatballs. Sprinkle in pretty generously the following spices: Basil, thyme, oregano, mint, salt, pepper & red pepper flakes. Once the meatballs are cooked, add a can of tomato paste right into the skillet with the meatballs and then fill the can with water twice and add to the skillet as well. I use 2 skillets, so I add the other can of tomato paste to the other skillet with 2 more cans of water and let it simmer for a few mintues while stirring until it mixes smooth. I think this is suppose to help the sauce pick up some of the meatball flavor [I don't know....my Italian friend told me to do this...lol!]

Once the tomato paste is mixed smooth with the meatballs, you can dump the meatballs and paste into the pot with the crushed tomatoes. Now, you can continue to add any additional spices you like... If you want a bbq flavor, maybe you can add some bbq sauce. I really don't think you can ruin this recipe. All sauces are really according to your own taste....so good luck!

Hope you like it!

Lori