Recipe(tried): Saturday's Italian Feast

Hi Again,

I am posting tomorrow's dinner because I know full well I will be busy tomorrow and won't get the chance.

We are having old friends over and my DH has requested that I make my Spaghetti and Meatballs dinner. The meatsauce is enough but since I am dieting, I need to make the meatballs so that I can eat too!! I will enjoy everything but the pasta and dessert.

Thus, the menu is as follows:

Spaghetti and MeatSauce with Meatballs
Sausages, Peppers and Onions
Roasted Red Bell Pepper Platter
Italian Mixed Greens Salad
Garlic Bread
Gina's Tiramisu

Mama Pacetti's Spaghetti with Meatballs and Sausage

This is an authentic recipe from the old countryside. Delicious!!!!

Meatballs:
1 lb. ground sirloin
1 onion, minced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup fresh chopped parsley
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup fine dry bread crumbs
1 egg, beaten
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. black pepper
1 tsp. Italian seasoning
1/4 tsp. oregano
2 Tbsp. olive oil

Mix ground sirloin, onion, garlic, parsley, Parmesan, bread crumbs, egg, salt, pepper and herbs. You can add a little water if too dry. Shape into 16 meatballs and brown in olive oil before adding to sauce.

For Meat Sauce:

Brown the 1 lb. sirloin, drain and set aside. Continue making the sauce as directed below.

Sauce:
1 large onion, chopped
4 garlic cloves, minced
2 red bell peppers, washed, cored and chopped
3 Tbsp. olive oil
1-2 pork chops or pork rib
2 (28 oz.) cans crushed tomatoes with puree
1 Tbsp. fresh basil or 1 t. dried
1/4 cup fresh chopped parsley
1/2 tsp. crumbled thyme
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
2 tsp. sugar
1/4 tsp. crushed dried red pepper
1 (6 oz.) can tomato paste
2 (8 oz.) cans tomato sauce
1/4 tsp. oregano
1/4 tsp. marjoram
1/4 tsp. rosemary
1 bay leaf
1 tsp. Italian seasoning
12 oz. cooked spaghetti
freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Saute onions, pork chops and garlic in large pot. Add tomatoes, paste and sauce and bring to a boil. Add next 13 ingredients, the browned meatballs and browned sirloin and simmer uncovered for 2 hours, stir occasionally.

Sausages, Peppers and Onions Platter

1 package of mild Italian Sausages
1 large onion, chopped coarsely long
1 large green bell pepper, seeded and cored
2 garlic cloves, sliced thin with a razor
olive oil
1/4 cup water

In a skillet place the sausages and water and cook over med-high heat till water evaporates. Drizzle over some olive oil and add the onions and peppers and brown the sausages and veggies. At the last minute add the garlic and let them cook for about 4 minutes. Arrange on a serving platter.

Roasted Red Bell Pepper Platter

3 large red bell peppers, cored and cut in half
olive oil
salt and pepper

Roast the red bell peppers on a foil lined baking sheet under the broiler till the skin is charred and black. Take them out and place them into a brown paper bag. Shut the bag and set aside to cool. When cool enough to handle, slip the skins off, they come off very easily. cut them in half again and arrange on a pretty platter. Drizzle olive oil over them, salt and pepper to taste. And, I drizzle a bit of the oil I keep my garlic cloves in to give it a bit more flavor. Cover the platter in plastic wrap and refrigerate til ready to serve.

Italian Mixed Greens Salad
serves 6

Mixed greens such as raddichio, endive, mesclun, iceberg and romaine torn into pieces
2 tomatoes, cut into chunks
1 cucumber, sliced
cubed mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup parmesan cheese
Italian dressing

Mix all ingredients in a large glass bowl and drizzle on the dressing.

Garlic Bread

1 Italian or French bread loaf
1 stick (1/2 cup) butter, softened
3 garlic cloves, pressed
1 Tbsp. parmesan cheese
1 tsp. oregano
paprika

Slice bread on the diagonal. Mix softened butter with all seasonings. Spread on both sides of bread and sprinkle each side with paprika. Layer slices on baking pan and put in 350 oven. AFter 5 min. turn each slice and continue baking for another 5 min til golden brown or desired doneness.

Gina's Tiramisu
This always gets rave reviews!
serves 16

5 eggs, separated
3/4 cup sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
6 Tbsp. cognac
16 oz. mascarpone cheese
2 pkgs. ladyfingers
1 cup strong expresso
cocoa powder to dust

Beat egg whites until stiff. Set aside.
Beat egg yolks well. Slowly add sugar and beat until very creamy. Add vanilla, cognac, and cheese. Blend well. Fold in beaten egg whites. Dip ladyfingers in expresso, place on bottom of 9x13-inch pan. Cover with cheese mixture, repeat layer. Dust with powdered cocoa. Refrigerate at least 4 hours or better overnight.

Have a great weekend everybody and I'll see you again on Sunday!!