Not Your Mama's Meatballs

Serving size: 4 Big meatballs

  • 2 pounds 80/20 ground beef
  • 3 ½ cups torn Italian bread
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 small bunch of parsley
  • 1 cup Romano cheese (1/2 for meatballs, 1/2 for garnish)
  • 2 minced cloves of garlic
  • ½ cup minced onion
  • 1 cup fresh basil chopped
  • kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon of red chili flakes
  • 1 cup mini mozzarella balls
  • four Kaiser rolls
  • ½ cup basil pesto for garnish

Put torn bread in a bowl with milk and let it soak for ten minutes. Wring out the bread and add it with all other ingredients. Form meatballs to 9-10 0z and put them on a half sheet tray with a rack to drain the grease. Bake for 25-30 mins at 400 degrees until browned.  remove from tray and add to tomato sauce.

Quick tomato sauce

Serves 4-5 people

2 cans whole tomatoes

½ cup extra virgin olive oil

10 basil leaves

4 garlic gloves

1 cup minced onion

1 tsp. red chili flakes (optional)

Freshly ground black pepper and kosher salt to taste 

Pour oil into sauce pot and add garlic and onion and basil leaves. Sweat on low heat until the onions are translucent. Add crushed tomatoes and cook for ½ hour. Add salt and pepper at the end to taste.

Banana pepper dip

  • 8 Hungarian peppers
  • 24 oz cream cheese
  • 1 ½ cup shredded mozzarella
  • 1 ½ cup grated parmesan
  • Panko breadcrumbs
  • 1tbsp chopped garlic
  • Ten slices of Italian bread

Preheat oven to 425°F. Wash peppers, remove seeds and chop coarsely. Mix softened cream cheese, chopped peppers, shredded mozzarella, and grated Parmesan. Spread cream cheese mixture in 8"x8" baking dish. Sprinkle top with panko breadcrumbs. Cut ten slices of Italian bread on the bias and toast for 10 mins in 325-degree oven. place Italian bread around the baked dip with ends pointing up.