Simple Meatballs

As I mentioned yesterday we have been on a meatball kick in my house.  Well, I have been on a meatball kick and John and Ann are on one too because that is what I feed them.  Isn't it funny that I can hold my family hostage with food because I do all the grocery shopping and cooking?  It's all about the control.

I use beef because I prefer beef.  My sister will use ground turkey because she is like that...healthy and stuff.   Use what you want but adjust accordingly.

What You Need:

1 lb ground beef or your ground meat of choice...
1/4 cup minced parsley
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 egg
1/2 cup grated Parmesan (fresh is best)
1/2 tsp Italian seasoning or your favorite herbs
2 tbsp olive oil
Cheese for topping
Pasta Sauce

What You Do:

So easy!!  Throw all of your ingredients into a large bowl.  Wash those hands and start combining.  Don't overdo it... you don't want a tough dense meatball.

Grab a cookie sheet and line it with parchment paper.  Form your mixture into balls, the size of which is whatever your meatball loving heart desires.  I keep it around 2 inches.  Stick the meatballs in the fridge for about 30 minutes. 

In a heavy skillet heat a couple tablespoons of olive oil.  Carefully place the meatballs (probably in 2 batches) in the skillet and leave them alone until they are good and brown, then flip.  Place the browned 'balls in a Pyrex and top with your favorite pasta sauce and grated cheese.

Cook in a 350 degree oven for about 20 minutes until the sauce is bubbly and the 'balls are cooked through.

Then serve to your starving baby, husband, dog... whoever you hold hostage each evening with food.  They are good, cheap and will fill you up.  Also, if you leave out the cheese as a topping you eliminate some calories... but don't leave out the cheese in the mixture... don't deny yourself that pleasure. 

If you want... and I'm going out on a limb here... if you want, take a small ball of mozzarella or monterey jack and wrap your meat mixture around the cheese ball, brown then bake and take pleasure in the excitement of your hostages biting into the meatball to find a gooey mess of cheese!

I should use a picture of Ann post meatball eating but I won't.