Italian Meatballs

Meatballs

1lb ground veal

1lb ground lamb

1lb ground beef 85/15

1/3c tomato paste

2 large eggs

1 heaping cup fresh bread crumbs

1T granulated garlic

1T granulated onion

1T black pepper

1 heaping T kosher salt

1 heaping T dried herbs de province

2T dried basil

Generous shake of cayenne pepper

1t ground fenugreek seed

Bring meat and eggs to room temp for half an hour before preparing, and preheat oven to 400°F.

Mix together all ingredients in a large bowl until combined. Using a small ice cream scoop, shape into 1” balls and evenly space on a cookie sheet. You will most likely need to use two cookie sheets to fit all of the meatballs.

Bake at 400°F for 15 minutes, then turn off the oven and let the meatballs rest for another 15 minutes inside the hot oven.

Can be cooked in a sauce at this point or frozen – let cool completely and then put into the freezer on a cookie sheet for one hour to firm up. Transfer to a gallon baggie and keep frozen until use.

Veggie Goulash

Veggie Goulash

1 large sweet potato, peeled and cut into ¼” cubes

1 large sweet yellow onion, ¼” dice

2 Anaheim peppers, seeded and sliced 1/8” thick

15-20 sweet baby bell peppers, seeded and sliced 1/8” thick

1lb sliced button mushrooms

1qt canned tomatoes, pureed

1 can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed

1/3 cup tomato paste

1 bottle of pale ale (Rahr Stormcloud)

1T ground black pepper

2T kosher salt

2T granulated garlic

1T dried basil

Generous shake of cayenne pepper

Extra virgin olive oil

Coat the bottom of a large Dutch oven with olive oil and heat over medium-medium high heat. Add diced sweet potato and onion and sauté for 2 minutes. Add tomato paste and seasonings and sauté for another 3 minutes, stirring frequently. You want the mixture to begin to brown.

Deglaze the pan by adding about half of the bottle of beer and scraping the goodies from the bottom of the pan. Stir, and add in all of the peppers. Cook for another 3-4 minutes then add the mushrooms.

Deglaze the pan again with about ½ of what’s left in the beer bottle, then add the tomatoes and beans. Continue cooking over medium heat for 15 minutes, stirring frequently as it begins to thicken.

At this point you can add meatballs, mozzarella cheese, etc.