Spaghetti and Meatballs

Yield: 6 servings

MEATBALLS
1 pound lean ground beef
1 cup fresh bread crumbs
1 tablespoon dried parsley
1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
1 egg, beaten

SAUCE
3/4 cup chopped onion
5 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup olive oil
2 (28 ounce) cans whole peeled
tomatoes
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon white sugar
1 bay leaf
1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
3/4 teaspoon dried basil
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

Directions:
In a large bowl, combine ground beef, bread crumbs, parsley, Parmesan, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, garlic powder and beaten egg. Mix well and form into 12 balls. Store, covered, in refrigerator until needed.



Yummy. :)

In a large saucepan over medium heat, saute onion and garlic in olive oil until onion is translucent. Stir in tomatoes, salt, sugar and bay leaf. Cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer 90 minutes. Stir in tomato paste, basil, 1/2 teaspoon pepper and meatballs and simmer 30 minutes more. Serve.

*This was amazing! I really loved it. My only suggestion on this one is to be sure to buy lean ground beef. Mine turned out a tad oilier than I would have liked. Also--this wouldn't be hard to make healthier either! Use ground turkey instead of ground beef, and use whole wheat pasta!*

Last Minute Garlic Bread

Whenever I'm making an italian meal, but am not in the mood to make breadsticks, I whip out a batch of these babies. Super simple, and super yummy.

You will need:

white bread
softened butter
mayonnaise
garlic powder


parmesaen cheese
italian seasonings
(both optional but good)

Mix equal parts softened butter and mayo until smooth. Add garlic powder a little bit at a time until it tastes the way you want it. I like mine really garlicky so I tend to add a lot. Generously spread onto bread. Broil in the oven until nice and toasty. (These are actually a tad toastier than I like, I forgot about them! Don't do that!) Sprinkle with parmesean cheese and italian seasoning. This is optional (I usually don't put it on) but it's good.

Graham Cracker Eclairs

I found this recipe on a craft blog the other day.  I just had to try it!


Makes 1 9x13 pan

2 small packages instant vanilla pudding
3 cups milk
1 package of chocolate frosting (or make your own)
8 oz. cool whip
1 box of graham crackers

--Stir pudding mix and milk together and let set for 5 minutes. Fold in cool whip. In a 9 x 13 pan layer graham crackers (I usually break some to get them to fit right). Then layer on 1/2 of the pudding mixture. Layer twice more and then spread frosting all over the top.

Let set overnight or at least 3 hours.

Serve and Enjoy!