‘Ground Beef’ Articles at Sweetnicks

The most tender, delicious meatballs that ever were. And the perfect thing to cook up when you want to proudly wave that Italian flag.

I have a small list of mini goals I am focusing on this year. I won’t call them resolutions, because there is nothing magically “new year” about them. Just little goals I have set for myself to work towards.

And cooking more Italian food happens to be one of them.

Which was especially reinforced when Nick exclaimed “We’re Italian??” at a New Year’s Day brunch.

It was a momentary lapse, for sure, but it just reminded me of how little Italian food I cook.

For two reasons.

One, because my interests in cooking are ALL OVER THE PLACE.

Kind of like me.

Not a bad thing in the least, but I think it’s important that my kids are reminded of their cultural background.

Even better when it’s through food at our table.

Because food = love.

I want them to associate certain things with their Mom and childhood.

Good, homecooked meals should be in the top five.

And the second reason I don’t cook a lot of Italian food?

Because carbs.

Hard to crack open an Italian cookbook and not find it rife with pastas and breads.

And while I’m not NOT eating carbs, I usually keep them at a bare minimum.

And so here we are.

Working on that mini goal of “cook more Italian,” and these meatballs.

Our weekend was decidedly chill, which was 100 parts awesome. And because it was planned that way, I also set aside a chunk of time to make Sunday Gravy. With meatballs. And garlic bread.

And this “weekend chill factor” was further buoyed by an ice storm that had all newscasters begging people to stay off the roads.

And so we did.

Pajama-clad from Saturday afternoon through mid-day Monday.

Perfection.

And so were these meatballs.

Ridiculously simple to make, they are moist, huge, and filled with subtly impactful flavor.

Which also means: everything a meatball should be.

Make them.

And tuck the recipe into your repertoire for when you have a lazy Sunday or want to embrace your Italian heritage.

Whether or not you’re Italian.

…

“My Mom thinks Honey Boo Boo is a train wreck,” Nick said in a phone call to one of his friends.

He was outside, and I was in the kitchen making dinner.

He’s right, of course. It is a train wreck. But one that we haven’t looked away from. And honestly, for all their quirks and, um, interesting character traits, you can’t deny their love for each other.

Moving on.

Nick loves Sloppy Joes to the nth degree. (The ground beef kind, not the sandwich kind that’s more well-known in New Jersey)

Growing up, Sloppy Joes sometimes hit our table for dinner. Stick-to-your-ribs goodness. One of the Sloppy Joe recipes that my mom made came from a family friend. Ketchup. Mustard. Brown sugar. And I don’t remember what else.

Years later, I got the recipe from my mom and started making it for my own family. Then, during one of our various moves, I lost the recipe card and just started improvising. Same basic ingredients, going just by taste for the finished product.

The Ex loved them. Served on a toasted bread bun, smothered with Sloppy Joe goodness. Melted cheese on mine. Not his. Weird man doesn’t like cheese as much as I do. Says someone who has a Pinterest board just dedicated to cheesy goodness. Oh yes.

And Nick is following in his Dad’s footsteps.

At least in that respect: Sloppy Joes? Love.

…

Recipe: Meatballs

Recipe: Beef and Mushroom Sloppy Joes {Cooking Light}