I love Lent. Fish on Fridays and weekdays dedicated to carnivoric catering at home. One of my favorite recipes for Lenten days-avant Friday is meatball soup.
I use Progresso Italian breadcrumbs and 1 pound of ground beef 90% lean and 1 pound of ground pork from Jack & Pat's Old Fashioned Butcher Shop in Chicago Ridge. These guys are wizards with meats.
First I make the meatballs
1-pound ground beef 90% lean
1-pound of ground pork
2- large eggs
4-large cloves of garlic smashed and chopped
1 -cup of Progresso Italian Breadcrumbs
1-pinch of kosher sea salt
1-Vigorous round of black pepper mill twisting, choking and turning like it was the neck of an elected official on your front porch
1-pinch of red pepper flakes
1-pinch of Frigo Four Cheeses flakes
A handful of fresh basil chopped up fine.
In a clean bowl and with clean hands mix all of the above
Make meatballs the size of a Titleist Pro V1 about two dozen - place a dozen on each of two cookie sheets that have been cover with wax paper. Freeze one for later. Refrigerate the other cover with more waxed paper overnight.
In a two quart pot*add the following:
Make or purchase four cups of Beef Broth
Rough chop a large red, or white onion
Add one cup of fresh lime juice
1/2 cup of brown sugar
Three crushed and chopped garlic cloves
One cup of Lillies' Hot Smoky Barbecue Sauce
One 12 oz. can of chopped tomatoes
Chopped fresh basil
Bring to a gentle boil and add 12 meatballs.
Reduce heat to low and cook until meatballs are done. Usually on the stove top about twenty-five minutes. I prefer to leave it on a very simmer for more than a bit longer.
Add a couple of handfuls of baby spinach a bit before serving and cook until wilted.
Serves 4 people or four nice meals with three meatballs each and garnish with Frigo Four Cheeses flakes.
It is mighty fine. Serve with real crusty Italian bread.
*You may also use a Hamilton Beach slow cooker set on low four hours. Do not set on high, unless you intend to keep a close eye on the soup. Here (above) is what it looks like getting underway.
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