Greek Meatballs

GREEK MEATBALLS

INGREDIENTS:

1# lean ground meat
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1 large tablespoon minced onion
1 rounded teaspoon minced garlic
1 teaspoon mint (ground) (fresh dried preferred)
1 tablespoon tomato sauce
2 heaping tablespoons finely chopped parsley
1 slice bread, moistened well
I can tomato puree, ground or crushed
Cinammon
PROCESS:

Mix all ingredients well.  Bread should be moistened and worked in your hand until it can be mixed well into mixture.

Form meatballs into average size.  Should yield about 18 or so.
Put in baking pan. 
Pour sauce into measuring cup, salt to taste add 2-3 dashes
        cinammon
Add one can of water and mix well in measuring cup
Add to meatballs and bake.  As meatballs brown, turn once.
Baking time:  1 hour or less depending on overn

ROBUST CHICKEN VEGETABLE SOUP

ROBUST CHICKEN VEGETABLE SOUP

Ingredients:

9 C. clear chicken stock, homemade preferred
4 T. chopped onion and/or scallions
1 C. small peeled organic carrots, cut in half
3-4 sprigs of celery leaves
1 1/2 C. orzo (Greek orzo preferable)
Salt and pepper to taste.  The pepper should be somewhat
                                          detectable
1 can diced tomatoes
1/2 can tomato sauce (puree, ground or crushed)

1/2 bag large, frozen peas

Method:

Put all ingredients in soup pot, except for peas
Let pot cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally to
      keep pasta from sticking
Let it cook slowly for at least 1/2 hour
Pasta should be extremely done.  Stir
Add peas, let simmer another 1/2 hour and soup is ready

**Delicious with chunks of boiled chicken included in soup

Serve with cheese and peasant bread

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Meatball Casserole

FAMILY-SIZED MEATBALL CASSEROLE

(Also excellent with ground meat)

Preheated oven 375 degrees

Ingredients:

   

     2# ziti pasta

     2# meatballs, prepared with seasonings

     1-32oz. jar prepared pasta sauce of your choosing

         (GERMANO'S SAUCE highly recommended)

        8 oz. alfredo sauce

     3 sticks butter (hold one for browning)

     Nutmeg

     6 C. grated cheese (not Parmesan)  Pecorino Romano,

             Locateli Romano etc. are preferable

      Milk (not skimmed) or half and half as needed

Process:

     Put meatballs in with half the sauce and cook until

            meat is done

     Add alfredo sauce and stir in well

     Boil Pasta while meatballs are cooking

     Add some salt to boiling water

     When both meatballs and pasta are done, drain pasta

     Put pasta back into pot, add the butter and about 4-5

             dashes nutmeg

     When thoroughly mixed, add pasta mixture to a
             large baking pan

     Put last stick of butter in small  frying pan and heat until browned

     Pour over pasta      
 Sprinkle 2 cups of cheese and

     remaining sauce on pasta

 Add the meatballs

     Sprinkle with 2 cups cheese

     With two large wooden spoons, mix entire mixture well

     Sprinkle remaining 2 cups of cheese

     Add as much milk and/or half and half as it will take

              to moisten entire mixture.  Mix well from top to

              bottom 

     Milk should not float on top of mixture

     Mix well and bake until golden brown on top

     Top layer of pasta will be crispy, crunchy and

     delicious.  Rest of casserole, creamy and luscious

   

     

    

             

        

MEATLESS PASTITSIO (BAKED MACARONI)

Ingredients:

2 lbs. ziti pasta

2- 2 1/2 qts. milk

½ -1 c. semolina (from health store)

2 1/2 sticks unsalted butter

4-6 c. grated Pecorino Romano or any tasty pasta cheese

          (Parmesan is not for this recipe.)

1 lb. crumbled feta (optional) Is an excellent addition

6 eggs

Nutmeg

Method:

Boil pasta in lightly salted water until done, drain and return to pot

Cut 2 sticks butter into chunks and add to hot pasta

Sprinkle just about 4 good sprinkles of nutmeg onto pasta. **You don’t want this to be too strong a flavor.**

Sprinkle crumbled feta into pasta…mix

Beat eggs well with whisk, mix in some cold milk (about ¼ c.) and add to pasta and mix well

Pour some semolina mixture (see below) to this and mix well

Put half of pasta in a approx. 10 x 15 baking pan (varies) and cover layer with half of grated cheese.  Put some semolina mixture on that

Add remaining pasta, sprinkle rest of cheese on top and put the rest of the semolina mixture on top.

Pour the milk slowly over the pasta, (reserving 2 cups) getting it in corners, sides, etc.

The milk should barely cover the pasta.

Bake at 375 degrees until golden brown crust forms

Remove from oven, score lightly after about 15 minutes.

This cannot be completely cut into pieces until almost cooled.

Mixture has to settle and gel.

SEMOLINA MIXTURE:

Light semolina sauce:

2 c. milk
2-3 tablespoons semolina
½ stick of butter
Dash of nutmeg

Slowly heat milk with semolina, stirring with whisk

Add butter and nutmeg and continue stirring until a slightly

thickened consistency.  Follow recipe

RICE PUDDING

Ingredients:

I quart whole or 2% milk (do not use skimmed milk)

5 tablespoons Uncle Ben’s converted rice, long grain

5 tablespoons sugar (more or less, depending on taste)

2 egg yolks (whites give pudding a different consistency)

1 teaspoon pure vanilla (no imitation)

¼ c. raisins (optional)

Cinnamon

 

Method:

Add the rice slowly to simmering milk.  Stir.  Lower temperature to a medium/low heat and let rice simmer, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking

When rice is softened and tender add the sugar and stir well. 

If adding raisins, allow rice to cook until almost done, before adding raisins.

Beat egg yolks well in small bowl and ad vanilla and beat some more.

Add a small amount of cold milk (3-4 tablespoons) to eggs and mix well

Using the spoon used to stir rice, slowly add hot milk to egg yolks, while stirring constantly.  Raise the temperature higher so you can see slight bubbling, while stirring. 

When the pudding has thickened to a nice consistency, remove from heat, stir a while longer and add to serving bowl.  Rice pudding also thickens while it’s cooling.)  When it has cooled, sprinkle top with cinnamon.

When completely cooled, cover and put into refrigerator.