ITALIAN MEATBALLS WITH GOLDEN RAISINS

Home » Food and Drink » Recipes Join Sign in EzineArticles - Expert Authors Sharing Their Best Original Articles Search Harriet Hodgson Diamond Quality Author Diamond Author | 1,062 Articles Joined: May 26, 2005 United States Italian Meatballs With Golden Raisins: A Special Recipe for You By Harriet Hodgson | Submitted On February 11, 2016 Recommend Article Article Comments Print Article Expert Author Harriet Hodgson Making meatballs is fun because there are so many varieties: beef, chicken, lamb, ham, pork, Chinese, cheese-stuffed, and even vegetarian. You can serve them in many ways, too, on top of pasta, or stuffed into a sandwich, added to soup, or as an appetizer. I've been making Swedish meatballs for years and, much as we love them, I was ready for a change. An avid cookbook reader, I took some of my favorite volumes off the shelf, and started reading recipes. Although many sounded good, none sparked my interest until I found one in The Complete Book of Pasta: An Italian Cookbook by Jack Denton Scott. First published in 1968, my version is a paperback, published in 1973, and the pages have yellowed with age. I had made the recipe before, and remembered that it needed some "tweaking." How could I change this recipe and make it my own? First, I used pork instead of beef. Since I loved the raisins so much, I added more of them, and added more parsley. I also changed the breadcrumbs and seasoning. The meat is pre-cooked in the oven for 25 minutes, and finished by simmering in the jarred sauce of your choice. (I used Marinara). I served the meatballs on top of bow-shaped pasta and it was great. Maybe it's because I knew they were there, but I could taste the raisins, and loved them. This surprised me because I'm not ordinarily a raisin fan. You may think dried fruit doesn't pair well with a tomato-based sauce, but I can assure you that it does. Personally, I think the raisins make this recipe unique. If you're pressed for time, make the meat mixture a day ahead, pre-cook the meatballs, and refrigerate or freeze them. Finish the recipe the next day or later. Here is my recipe for Italian Meatballs with Golden Raisins. INGREDIENTS 2 large eggs, beaten 3 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese 1/2 cup Italian breadcrumbs 4 tablespoons Italian parsley, chopped 1/3 cup golden raisins, chopped 1 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon seasoned pepper 1 pound lean ground pork 1 jar of pasta sauce Parmesan cheese, grated METHOD Heat oven to 350 degrees. Coat a baking pan with cooking spray. Crack the eggs into a batter bowl and beat well with fork. Add all ingredients, except meat, and combine well. Slowly work pork into breadcrumb mixture. Form meat into ping-pong size balls and set on pan. Bake for 20 minutes. Pour sauce into soup pot. Swish out the jar with a little water. Transfer meatballs to pot, cover, and simmer over low heat for 1/2 hour, minimum, or 1 hour. Serve on your pasta of choice, cooked white or brown rice, or ciabatta bread. Garnish with Parmesan cheese. Makes 6-8 servings. http://www.harriethodgson.com Harriet Hodgson has been a freelancer for 37 years, is the author of thousands of articles, and 35 books. Her latest releases: Happy Again! Your New and Meaningful Life After Loss, The Family Caregiver's Guide, Affirmations for Family Caregivers, and A Journal for Family Caregivers. Visit her website and learn more about this busy author and caregiver. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Harriet_Hodgson/7963 0 Comments | Leave a Comment Did you find this article helpful? Happy Face0 Sad Face0 Viewed 53 times Word count: 462 Article Tools EzinePublisher Report this article Cite this article Stay Informed Subscribe to New Article Alerts: Food and Drink: Recipes Harriet Hodgson Email Address Subscribe We will never sell or rent your email address. Recipes Article Feed Recipes Article Feed Find More Articles Search Recent Articles Herb Highlight: 3 Amazing Sage Recipes 5 Quick and Easy Snacks for Game Night 3 Easy Yogurt Dip Recipes to Try at Home How to Use Vinegar in Recipes One-Pan Pasta With Taco Seasoning: A Quick Fix Meal for Family Caregivers 3 Easy-To-Make Casserole Recipes The Whole Family Will Enjoy Sweet and Sour - Tamarind in the Kitchen and Beyond 3 Must-Try Chicken Recipes For Your Christmas Menu The Best Bratwurst Sausage Recipe Organic Cinnamon - More Than a Nice Spice EzineArticles.com About Us FAQ Contact Us Member Benefits Privacy Policy Shop Site Map Blog Training Video Library Advertising Affiliates Cartoons Authors Submit Articles Members Login Premium Membership Expert Authors Endorsements Editorial Guidelines Terms of Service Publishers Terms Of Service Ezines / Email Alerts Manage Subscriptions EzineArticles RSS © 2017 EzineArticles All Rights Reserved Worldwide