There is one thing I cannot make. That is my grandma’s macaroni. Every extended family member of mine and any close family friends know exactly what dish I am referring to. It’s the simply made elbow macaroni and red sauce with a thick layer of finely grated Parmesan cheese. She made it for every family reunion, and as a side dish to almost any meal. I am not sure why I can’t get it right as I have probably consumed this one dish more than any other dish from any relative or even my own kitchen ever.
I won’t give up. I will keep playing with ratios and ingredients until I get it right. But in the meantime, I sure do love all the experiments in trying to make her macaroni, as it was plainly called. However, this attempt wasn’t a full-hearted attempt. I added some veggies to my sauce that I know were not in hers. I needed to sneak them in because my 4-year old is going through an incredibly picky phase as of late.Since I was making macaroni, I decided why not a meatball. Who doesn’t love a meatball? They are a personal favorite and they pair perfectly with the macaroni. While this is not my grandma’s macaroni, I definitely channeled her with this one.
Ingredients
Meatballs
- 1 lb . lean ground beef
- 1/3 cup milk
- 1 egg
- 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese; finely grated
- 2 tbsp . onion; grated (about 1/4 an onion)
- 1 tsp . dried basil
- 1 tsp . dried parsley
- 1 tbsp . breadcrumbs
Sauce
- 1 rib celery; finely diced
- 1 cup onion; finely diced
- 1/2 cup carrot; finely diced
- 2 cups tomato sauce (2-8 oz. cans)
- 1-6 oz . can tomato paste
- 11/2-2 cups water (depending on desired thickness of the sauce)
- 1/2 tsp . dried oregano
- 2 cloves garlic
- 2 bay leaves
- Salt/pepper to taste
- Extra Virgin olive oil
- 1/2 lb . dried elbow macaroni
Instructions
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Mix all the ingredients for the meatballs together; making sure it is well mixed. Set aside.
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In a large pot, heat the oil over medium high heat.
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Once the pan/oil is hot, add the celery, onions, carrots, and garlic.
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Sauté for 2 minutes or until the veggies begin to soften.
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Add the oregano, salt, pepper, and bay leaves and allow them to bloom, about 1 minute.
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Add the tomato sauce, stir well, and then add the tomato paste.
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Stir until the paste has been fully incorporated into the sauce.
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Slowly add the water until the desired consistency has been reached.
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Bring the sauce to a high simmer, taste, and add any salt or pepper.
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Once the sauce has come to a low boil, using a kitchen tablespoon, form small meatballs and gently drop them into the sauce.
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Reduce the heat to medium.
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Cover and allow the meatballs to remain in the sauce undisturbed for 15 minutes.
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After 15 minutes, gently stir the sauce, replace the cover and continue to cook, another 10 minutes or until the meatballs are cooked through.
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Once the meatballs have gone into the sauce, cook the pasta according to package directions.
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Once cooked, strain, and return to the pot.
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Add several ladles-full of sauce (no meatballs) to the pasta.
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Stir until all the pasta is lightly coated in the sauce.
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Serve the pasta with meatballs and more sauce.
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Generously sprinkle Parmesan cheese over it all.
31 Comments
janelle
August 12, 2014 at 6:14 amthis is a fab idea, and I will definitely give this a try! I see this being good the next day for lunch too.
Michelle
August 12, 2014 at 11:27 amIt’s even better the second day!
christine
August 12, 2014 at 8:48 amThis looks just like something I would eat as a kid. Who doesn’t love “mini” foods!
Michelle
August 12, 2014 at 11:28 amIt is a dish reminiscent of my own childhood. 🙂 And I love mini too. I feel like I am being indulgent having a few, when I am still eating well within the realm of good reason. 😉
Healing Tomato
August 12, 2014 at 10:06 amLOVE your styling method and I love how you always have the 2 elephants in every pic.
Michelle
August 12, 2014 at 11:30 amThe meatball on a fork is called a ‘lollipop’. Something my grandma gave me when she made meatballs. Thank you for the elephants comment. I love elephants and these s/p shakers have become a signature of sorts.
Sandi
August 12, 2014 at 6:58 pmOMG totally drooling. I love, love, love good meatballs. This recipe looks so good I am starving. Will make this over the weekend with gluten free breadcrumbs 🙂
Michelle
August 13, 2014 at 9:04 pmThese meatballs were tender and juicy. I did a bit more milk than I normally do and it was a success. Hope you enjoy them.
susan @ the wimpy vegetarian
August 12, 2014 at 7:42 pmThis would be such a hit with my family. Our 7 grandkids come often to visit, and this is going on the menu for their next visit!!!
Michelle
August 13, 2014 at 9:05 pmPasta is the easiest thing to make when you have an army to feed. Hope they all enjoy it. Thank you.
Kim - Liv Life
August 12, 2014 at 8:48 pmOh, how my son would LOVE this recipe!! He loves meatballs of all types, add pasta and he’d probably like to be adopted!!
Michelle
August 13, 2014 at 9:05 pmHe’s always welcome. He’d fit in well with me. I am a sucker for a meatball of any kind.
[email protected]
August 18, 2014 at 3:30 pmThis is kind of like an “all-inclusive” spaghetti dish. Love that it’s a one-bite meal but with nutrient dense layers. Pinned. =) #savoringsaturdays
Michelle
August 19, 2014 at 1:55 pmThank you Jessica. I love slipping in the veggies where I can.
Beth (OMG! Yummy)
December 4, 2014 at 8:47 amThis is terrific – all my family’s comfort food favorites in one dish. I recently made a barley beef flanken soup in an attempt to recreate something my grandmother made. It didn’t taste the same but it was fun trying and I’ll do it again and again!
Michelle
December 4, 2014 at 10:10 amIt is fun to recreate the recipes for childhood. I call it ‘eating memories.’
Dan from Platter Talk
December 5, 2014 at 6:34 amLooks terrific! Our boys will love this creation; thanks so much for sharing!
Michelle
December 5, 2014 at 1:34 pmThank you Dan…I’d make a double batch with all those growing boys.
Betsy @ Desserts Required
December 5, 2014 at 9:29 pmWell, this may not be Grandma’s but it sure does look delicious!
Michelle
December 6, 2014 at 12:27 amThank you Betsy!
Christina Lakey | Food Apparel
December 7, 2014 at 11:20 pmWhat a fun memory of your Grandma! My grandma had a few trademark dishes as well, but despite the recipe book that my uncle put together, they just don’t seem to taste quite the same……
So, those mini meatballs look amazing and don’t even get me started on that sauce! I’m hungry, RIGHT NOW!
Michelle
December 8, 2014 at 12:54 amThank you Christina! I am not sure why recreating is so difficult. I know a lot of it has to do with the lack of measuring they did and we have to do. Hope you enjoy it!
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Sabrina
July 28, 2015 at 7:22 amWhat a delicious looking dish! My little one would love this!
Michelle
July 29, 2015 at 12:21 pmWonderful, my little one loves it too.
Neli @ Delicious Meets Healthy
July 28, 2015 at 8:16 pmI love meatballs and this dish looks amazing!! I have always loved my grandma’s cooking as well, and now i enjoy being able to cook for her when we visit together.
Michelle
July 29, 2015 at 12:22 pmCooking for my grandparents is a pleasure for me as well.
Susan | LunaCafe
July 28, 2015 at 10:01 pmWho doesn’t love a meatball indeed! I’v been craving meatballs lately. And then this recipe appears. Coincidence? I think not. 🙂
Michelle
July 29, 2015 at 12:23 pmWell then my timing was perfect.
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