Cooking together ❤️

So earlier today, I asked my daughter what her preference was for dinner? She said spaghetti 🍝 and meatballs.

So ok cool, that’s easy and yummy and the perfect thing for a cooking lesson – right?? Lol

Her response was “but mom, I’m only 13” 🤨 … my response to that was … “…and your point?”

I did not want to go total “parent” on her and be like “when I was 13” lol… I would just get eye rolls 🙄

But it’s fun to cook something you like together. Special moments while you have them, ya know?

And it’s a recipe that once you figure out your own tastes – you can tweak to how you like?

I only know American things – or how “I” do it.

I teach her my ways, and I’m always on the hunt for new things to try. But for now, she learns my way.

This is how I make when I have time ❤️

It’s not my recipe, someone gave it to me years and years ago and I just loved it!! I can’t take credit for it, but it is delicious, and your house smells amazing. I had time to do it really good today, cause it simmers ❤️

I used to make HUGE batches because the boys used to eat a lot… but when is just “me and her” – I scale it back by half – it still makes a lot – and we always have left overs… but that’s fine with me.

Also, I tweak recipes – both in size or way I want it. This will be how made today, small half sized version. But still a lot!!!

Sometimes I am just a “dump cook” …meaning if I have made the recipe enough times – I just eyeball it. But I have all the recipes I love written down so I don’t forget them, and so my kids can just have them all someday- if they want.

So here is how I make the meatballs…

Meatballs

1/2 lb ground beef

1/2 lb Italian sausage

About 1/4 cup bread crumbs

1 egg, beaten

1 – 2 cloves minced garlic

1/2 tsp Italian seasoning

1 tsp parsley flakes (or use 2 tsp fresh parsley)

1/4 cup Parmesan cheese

1/2 – 1 tsp salt (or however you like it)

1/8 tsp black pepper (or again however you like it.

Then I just mix that all together, and make balls lol 😄✌️

I bake them at 375 degrees – for maybe 20 minutes – they are gonna simmer in the sauce anyway.

(I freeze some, for later – we do not eat all that lol)

The sauce is easy but it has to simmer…

The Sauce 🍝

1 28oz can of crushed tomatoes

15 oz Tomato purée

1/2 a 6oz can tomato paste

1 tsp sugar (you can do more if you like, I don’t really like sugar here, I usually omit the sugar cause I don’t like it in this)

1/2 – 1 tsp salt

1/8 tsp black pepper (I watch the pepper cause daughter has dislike for it, but again play with it to what you want)

1/2 tsp Italian seasoning

1/2 tsp garlic powder

1/2 tbsp parsley flakes (or 1 tsp fresh)

1/4 c grated Parmesan cheese

1 onion, chopped (I make the pieces small because my people are weird with onions lol)

1 clove garlic, minced

I just dump the crushed tomatoes, tomato purée and tomato paste into a pot, and then add 28 oz of water – I just use the can from the crushed tomatoes.

I bring that to a boil and then put it on simmer. Then add the sugar, salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, garlic powder and Parmesan cheese. Make sure everything is mixed. Do not add onions or garlic yet…

I add the meatballs, that I just made…

I put a little oil in a pan and fry the onion and garlic together until tender, THEN I add to sauce, and simmer for about 2-3 hours.

And then we just serve it over pasta.

She already knows how to make this a fast store bought way… but we had time today. ❤️ I am not a fan of store bought, I prefer this way.

Again still makes a lot, but leftovers are awesome!

So we did that today. ❤️🍝✌️