Years ago, Lou and I visited New York City with the children. That was before the world wide web was around, so we relied on the suggestions of Frommer’s, a well-known series of travel books, when traveling. For dinner one night, we chose Frommer’s Italian restaurant suggestion. I can’t remember the name of the place, but we felt as though we had walked into a scene from a mafia movie. The place was very small, and the tables were tight. We sat at the bar for dinner. After studying the menu for a few minutes, we placed our order. Lou questioned our waitress because her entrée said Spaghetti and Meatball, which made her wonder about the singular meatball. She assured Lou that one would be plenty. Y’all, that was the biggest meatball I have ever seen in my life. It was seriously about the size of a grapefruit. It was huge but so delicious! I don’t make my meatballs near that big, but I do like them to be rather large compared to normal. This recipe is perfect for Friday Night Porch Party when you expect a large crowd. I usually make the Best Alfredo Sauce too, so everyone is happy.
Memaw's Meatballs
(Serve with Memaw's Red Sauce)
Ingredients:
1 small onion, chopped
1 clove of garlic, minced
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 slices of white bread soaked in 1/4 cup milk
2 pounds ground beef
1 pound ground pork
1/2 cup ketchup
1 tablespoon parsley
1 teaspoon basil
1 teaspoon oregano
1 tablespoon salt
1 teaspoon pepper
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a skillet, sauté onions and garlic until tender. In a large mixing bowl, combine onions and garlic with the remaining ingredients. Using your hands, mix well. Shape into good size meatballs, about 2 inches in diameter. Transfer to a large baking sheet with rimmed edges. Bake about 30 minutes until meatballs are cooked through. Drain off the fat and transfer the meatballs to a Dutch oven. Cover the meatballs with Memaw's Red Sauce. On the stove top at medium heat, bring the mixture back to a simmer for about 30 minutes. Serve over pasta of your choice.