Large Meatballs with Cherry Peppers and Potatoes

Another recipe from Rocco Gets Real.  I will say I could not find the bottle of sliced hot cherry peppers, so I used a jar of roasted red peppers instead.  It still tasted really good.

 

Ingredients

1 1/2 lbs ground beef
1/3 cup plain breadcrumbs
1/2 cup grated Parmesan
2 eggs, beaten well
1 tsp salt, plus more for seasoning
1/2 tsp pepper, plus more for seasoning
1 large potato
2 – 13.5 oz jars pasta sauce
1/2 cup sliced hot cherry peppers, drained (again, I substituted a drained jar of roasted red peppers)
1/2 cup chopped parsley or basil (I used dried parsley)

Directions

1.  Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  In a large bowl, mix together the ground beef, breadcrumbs, cheese, eggs, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp pepper.  Divide mixture into 8 portions.  Roll each portion into a large meatball.

2. Peel potato and shred it on a box grater.  Wrap the shredded potato in a clean cotton kitchen towel (or paper towels).  Hold it over the sink and squeeze as much water out as you can.

3.  Combine the pasta sauce and cherry peppers in a medium microwave-safe bowl.  Cover with plastic wrap and microwave on high until hot, 3 to 4 mins.  Stir in shredded potatoes.  Season generously with salt and pepper.

4.  Pour the pasta sauce mixture in a 9 x 13 baking dish.  Add the meatballs to the pan and season with salt and pepper.  Cover with aluminum foil and bake for about 30 mins.  Turn each meatball over.  Continue to bake until meatballs are cooked through and potatoes are tender, another 20 to 30 mins.

5.  Sprinkle parsley on top and serve.

 

These do make HUGE meatballs, so I am of the opinion you get two meals out of this recipe.

Stuffed Shells

A recipe I found on 101 Cookbooks…it is absolutely delicious, and the combo of ricotta and lemon in the filling is AWESOME.

Stuffed Shells

 

Ingredients

zest of one lemon

Sauce:
1/3 cup / 80 ml extra virgin olive oil, plus more for the pan
1 1/2 teaspoons crushed red pepper flakes
scant 3/4 teaspoon fine grain sea salt
4 medium cloves of garlic, finely chopped
1 28-ounce can crushed red tomatoes
1 14-ounce can crushed red tomatoes

Filling:
1 15-ounce container ricotta cheese
1 egg, beaten
1/4 teaspoon fine grain sea salt
1 cup / ~5 oz grated mozzarella
1 bunch of chives, minced

25-30 jumbo dried pasta shells

Directions

Oil a 13 x 9-inch / 33 x 23-cm baking pan, or equivalent, and sprinkle the zest of 1/2 the lemon across it. Set aside. Get a big pot of water boiling, and preheat your oven to 350F / 180C with a rack in the middle.

To make the sauce, combine the olive oil, red pepper flakes, sea salt, and garlic in a cold saucepan. Stir while you heat the saucepan over medium-high heat. Saute just 45 seconds or so until everything is fragrant – you don’t want the garlic to brown. Now stir in the tomatoes and heat to a gentle simmer, just a minute or two. Remove from heat and carefully take a taste (you don’t want to burn your tongue)…If the sauce needs more salt add it now. Let cool.

To make the filling, combine the ricotta, egg, and salt in a medium bowl. Mix until combined, then stir in the mozzarella, remaining lemon zest, and 3/4 of the chives. Set aside.

Cook the shells according to package instructions in well-salted water – until al dente. If you overcook, the shells will tear as you attempt to fill them. Drain and let cool long enough to handle with your hands – see photo.

Spread 1/3 of sauce across the bottom of the prepared pan. Fill each shell with ricotta, and arrange in a single layer in the pan. Ladle the remaining sauce over the shells, cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes, uncover for the final 15 minutes or until the shells are cooked through. Sprinkle with the remaining chives and serve hot.

Serves 4 – 6.

Prep time: 30 min – Cook time: 45 min