Rustic Spaghetti & Meatballs

There is just something special about Italian for Valentines Day. It's red I suppose but more than that it is like a big warm hug to your family or special someone. 

Since I was able to make tacos with the leftover pork this week, I can use the ground beef we got for tacos as meatballs for our Valentines Dinner. Winning!!  

I have another recipe for Rustic Herb Meatballs here in the blog. I didn't have bread crumbs this time though so I used some crackers I had in the cabinet. Use what you have!  

I know you just love our fine Valentine China. Ha!

Here's the recipe for the spaghetti and the meatballs. Use whichever recipe you want however. 

Ingredients:

1 pound ground beef

1 egg

10-15 crackers

2 tablespoons Rustic Herb Seasoning

Start by putting the beef, eggs and Rustic Herb Seasoning in the bowl. 

Then put crackers 10-15 or so in a zipper bag and crush. I just used my hand mixers.....my hands!  Then pour your crumbs into the bowl. I don't add salt or pepper because the Rustic Herb Seasoning provides that peppery flavor and the crackers have salt on them. 

This version I am baking. So spray your chosen baking dish with cooking spray, an 8x8 baker or I used my deep dish pie plate. 

Roll your meatballs about 1 inch and place into your baking dish. 

Cover with foil so that the grease doesn't pop all over the oven and the meatballs cook through. 

Bake at 375 degrees for 30 minutes. I pre made mine this morning since I already had the oven on for our valentines biscuits and gravy breakfast. But you could do this while you are making your spaghetti at dinnertime. 

I made my spaghetti noodles. I cook mine for 9 minutes so they aren't over cooked. Warm the jarred sauce in a sauce pan. I like to jazz mine up with either some Mama Mia Marinara Seasoning or more Rustic Herb Seasoning. Add your meatballs to the sauce and warm through. 

Serve over the spaghetti and garnish with Parmesan cheese. 

I am serving a salad and a loaf of Bountiful Beer Bread. Oh yeah!  It's Valentines after all. 

Have fun with it and make it your own. Happy cooking!!

Mama Mia Lasagna

We hosted my dad at our house for his birthday in November.  I love cooking for my family and he specially requested my lasagna.  Well, I spiced it up a bit by using Mama Mia Marinara Sauce Mix to make the sauce.  Oh goodness it was fabulous.  He raved about it and still mentions it every once in awhile.  :)  I hope you like it too.

 

Ingredients:
1 pound of ground beef or ground turkey
1 TBSP Onion Onion
1/2 cup Mama Mia Marinara Mix
2 28 oz can of Crushed Tomatoes
1 24 oz container Small Curd Cottage Cheese
1 egg
2 TBSP Grated Parmesan Cheese
Fresh Ground Black Pepper
16 oz Shredded Mozzarella
Oven Ready Lasagna Noodles

Preheat Oven to 350°

Brown the ground beef with the Onion Onion until no longer pink, drain and set aside. Prepare the Mama Mia Marinara according to the instructions on the container (this can be done ahead of time if you want). In a bowl beat the egg, add the cottage cheese, parmesan cheese and black pepper.

Now for assembly. In a 13x9 inch baking dish place 1 1/2 cups of marinara and spread to coat the bottom of the pan. Add 4 lasagna noodles. Layer cottage cheese mixture, ground beef, sauce and mozzarella cheese. Repeat another layer like this one. Lastly, place 4 more lasagna noodles on the top, the rest of the sauce and the rest of the mozzarella cheese. Your pan should be full and slightly liquidy. If it is too dry, add a little water around the edges to make sure there is enough moisture for the noodles. Bake for 60-75 minutes until noodles are cooked through, the sauce is bubbly and the cheese is melted and brown.

Serves 6 or so with left overs for the next day!

Rustic Herb Meatballs

So, we were hungry for meatball subs one night but we didn't have any frozen meatballs, our product of choice.  I decided, I have all of the ingredients, I'm going to make the meatballs.  OH MY GOODNESS!!  Best.decision.ever!!  These were so tender and flavorful I could have eaten 10 subs.  Ok, well maybe not that many but they were so yummy!!

(I didn't get a photo of these, so feel free to send me yours!)

Ingredients:
1 pound ground beef
1 egg, beaten
1/2 cup bread crumbs, unseasoned
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
1-1 1/2 tablespoon of Rustic Herb Seasoning
Pepper to taste

Mix all ingredients together just until combined. Form into 1" balls and brown on one side for 5 minutes, turn and brown further for another 3 minutes. Add 1/4 cup of water to the skillet and cover. Cook until no longer pink (about 20 minutes).

Add to your favorite marinara sauce (make your own with Mama Mia Marinara Mix!). Serve over your favorite pasta or on hoagie buns for a meatball sub.