Cheese Filled Meatballs with Creamy Polenta

I will never eat noodles with meatballs again. This meal is like a dream come true and I’ve eaten it three nights in a row as proof. POLENTA Traditional Italian Polenta (pre-cooked polenta in the log form found at most grocery stores) Milk 1/2-3/4 C Parmesan cheese S&P TOMATO SAUCE 28 oz canned tomatoes 1-2 TB sugar 1 TB Italian spices 1 jar tomato sauce MEATBALL 2 lb extra lean ground beef (96% lean) 3/4 C crumbled Caramelized onion cheddar cheese (Trader Joes) 1/2 Yellow onion, grated with zester 2 TB garlic 3 slices wheat bread, soaked in milk and crumbled 2 TB Worcestershire sauce 2 TB Italian spices (basil, oregano) S&P Heat polenta in sauce pan and add milk as needed to thin out. Add Parmesan until melted through and S&P. Heat canned tomatoes, sugar, and spices and reduce by half. Add jarred tomato sauce and continue to warm through. Combine all meatball ingredients and form into 1 1/2 inch balls. In a sauté pan sear meatballs in EVOO on a couple of sides. Add meatballs to tomato sauce…

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Lean and Mean Meatballs

This picture does not do these homemade meatballs justice. I love big, moist, juicy meatballs with a delicious vegetable sauce and just a little whole wheat angel hair pasta. My secret to moist meatballs is soaking a piece or two of bread in milk until it is all absorbed. Don’t skip this step! Combine- Extra lean ground beef 93% lean 1-2 lbs 1-2 eggs 2 slices wheat bread soaked in 3/4 C milk until soggy- tear apart into tiny pieces Italian herbs (fresh parsley,dry basil, dry oregano) 3/4 C Parmesan cheese Minced garlic 1/2 Grated onion (use a zester and grate onion juice into mixture) S&P Red pepper flakes Mold meatballs into 1 1/2 inch or bigger balls. Sear on all sides in a sauté pan with EVOO. Sauté eggplant and mushrooms in some EVOO (or any veggies you have). There are so many great sauces out there I use Rao’s or Emeril’s tomato sauce. Add 2 jars sauce to large pan and drop in seared meatballs. Simmer with lid for 1 hour or so. Top with more Parmesan and…

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