More Meatballs

OK - I think Wegmans entered my brain and took my meatball recipe - sort of.

In the Fall 2010 Menu magazine there's a meatball recipe that is just like the one I make.
It's so strange that the last time I made meatballs I used panko bread crumbs instead of Italian bread crumbs and that's what they have in their recipe too.  And I always put grated cheese in too, have for decades.  So here's a combined recipe of the best of both recipes that I used today, so if I'm not home and want to make them, I can just look here.

 Meatballs
1 cup panko bread crumbs
2 large eggs
1/2 cup water
1/3 cup grated Italian Cheese (parmesan, romano or both - whatever you have)
2 tsp minced garlic
2 Tbsp minced fresh Italian parsley or 2 tsp dried
1 tsp Italian Seasoning
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1 # 90% Ground Beef

Mix all ingredients together and then with hands mix in beef just until combined
(overmixing will toughen meatballs - per Wegmans) - great - I always loved using my hands - they probably got that from me too!

Shape into meatballs. I like to add directly to sauce, on low, until cooked.
Wegmans baked them in the oven at 450 for 15-17 min. but I don't like flat bottom meatballs.  

I added them to Ragu Chunky Spaghetti Sauce and also made sausage that went into the sauce.  And this was our dinner - after spending over an hour putting together all the speaker wires for the zillionth time over the last few months.  Thank goodness this time everything works with the new receiver.  I hope to never have to deal with it again.

Thursday, April 9 - Meatballs

Finally the weather is what you would expect for April in Florida. After wasting most of the morning we went over to the Coconut Cove rec center and played some tennis. Playing tennis may be stretching it. I haven't had a racquet in my hand since last fall and haven't done much aerobic exercise since then either. I didn't realize I was in such bad shape until I ran out of breath so quickly. Can't wait for "silver sneakers."

After tennis and a snack we went to the pool. The water was wonderful, warmer than the air or at least it felt that way when we got out of the water. We were back at the house by 4:00 to watch the Masters.












Dinner is homemade tonight. I made meatballs, even made my own breadcrumbs. They came out really good. I can list the ingredients but since I didn't use a recipe can't give very exact amounts.

1 lb ground beef (we had ground sirloin - it was on sale)
4 thick slices of whole wheat bread toasted and crumbled
1 egg
1/4 - 1/2 cup milk - I just poured some in
Onion to taste
1 garlic clove
Seasonings - I used Italian, pepper and parsley because that's what we have here
Grated parmesan cheese

Put cut up onions, chopped garlic, egg, milk, seasonings in blender and blend until pretty much liquified.
Add to ground beef and bread crumbs. Add 1/4 cup parmesan cheese. Mix well and form into large balls.
Put into saucepan with your favorite sauce and cook for 1/2 hour. Start at a medium temperature and when bubbles turn down to low.
Serve over your favorite pasta.

Bon appetit.