Pasghetti and Meatballs

 

Kids like video games (ugh), watching TV (anything on Netflix), hanging out with friends, playing outside and COOKING. Last week end my bestie and I took the night off and hired some mini professional chefs. What a blast! We barely assisted...just giggled and salivated because of the delicious aromas coming from the oven and the stove. The excitement of our children was intoxicating. 

The kids chose the recipe earlier in the day. We picked up groceries, unpacked and started planning. The key to a good meal is a solid plan. 

 

I love that they included set the table. They even pulled out a table cloth and candles.  The meal was so special. 

The boys started on the meatballs, the girls started the sauce. 

Easy Marinara Sauce

Finely chop an onion and two cloves of garlic. 

Sauté the garlic and onion over medium heat; in a tablespoon of olive oil. 

When the onions soften and brown, add two 680 ml bottles of Strained Tomatoes to the pan along with 2 tablespoons of tomato paste. 

Add 1 tsp of oregano, 1 sprig of fresh basil, 1 bay leaf and salt and pepper to taste. 

Simmer for 6-8 hours. Time is the most important ingredient in spaghetti sauce! The longer it cooks, the better it tastes. Your tomatoes will sweeten as they simmer; if you feel the sauce isn't sweet enough when you're ready to serve, add 1/2 tsp of dark brown sugar. 

 

The boys used the above recipe to make the meatballs. It's one I pulled out of a Compliments Magazine years ago. Its a fantastic recipe, always delicious and extra special with the milk soaked bread. Due to food sensitivities, we opted to use beef only. 

 

The mixing of the meatballs could not have been more entertaining! Raw meat was was an interesting sensation for the boys. My son, Drew, was less than pleased but watching him was hilarious. Once all of the ingredients were mixed, the boys expertly rolled out meatballs. 

 

While the boys prepped meatballs, the girls put together a Caesar Salad and Isabella made a beautiful garlic bread. 

 

She used 2 baguettes and my favourite spreadable garlic butter. She cut the bread on her own, buttered the bread and sprinkled with fresh Parmesan Cheese. Immediately before dinner, we preheated the oven to 375 F and baked the bread for about 10 minutes. 

 

The girls needed some guidance cooking the meatballs, which they browned in a pan and transferred to a 350 F oven for 15 minutes, checking for an internal temperature of 160 F. 

When it came time to serve, we left some of the meatballs without sauce, for the picky eaters. We mixed the rest right in with the sauce and served over el dente pasta. 

This meal was such a hit!  The kids ravaged the meatballs...so did the adults. Dinner was fabulous. The kids were beyond proud of themselves, willing to try something new and excited about the fact that they that had created a restaurant quality meal.  What a special night. 

 

Thanks for reading!!  If you liked this blog or have any  questions or you just liked this Big Idea, feel free to comment below!