Menu Wednesday #16 - Meatball Subs

Last week, when I should have been posting Menu Wednesday, I was making the Barefoot Contessa's Meatballs & Spaghetti for Barefoot Bloggers and they were de-li-cious. The recipe made so many big wonderful meatballs that I hadn't finished my first bite before I knew some of the extras would end up in meatball subs. And, I thought, what a perfect menu for this time of year! So here it is -- finally! -- the menu I owed you last Wednesday. When you try it, you'll know it was worth the wait!

MEATBALL SUBS
adapted from Barefoot Contessa Family Style Cookbook
For the meatballs:
1 lb. ground pork
1 lb. very lean ground beef
1 c. fresh white bread crumbs
1/4 c. dry bread crumbs
1/4 tsp. Italian herb blend
2 tbsp. chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
1/2 c. Kraft shredded Parmesan cheese
2 tsp. kosher salt
1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg
1 extra-large egg, beaten
Olive oil

For the sauce:
1 tbsp. good olive oil
1 c. chopped yellow onion (1 onion)
1 1/2 tsp. minced garlic
1/2 c. good red wine (I used a Merlot)
1 (28-oz.) can crushed tomatoes, or plum tomatoes in puree, chopped
1 tbsp. chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
1 tsp. kosher salt
1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper

For the sandwiches:
8 sub rolls
16 provolone or mozzarella cheese slices

Place the ground meats, both bread crumbs, parsley, Parmesan, salt, pepper, nutmeg, egg, and 3/4 c. warm water in a bowl. Combine very lightly with a fork. Using your hands, lightly form the mixture into 2-in. meatballs. You will have 14 to 16 meatballs.

Pour equal amounts of vegetable oil and olive oil into a large (12-in.) skillet to a depth of 1/4-in. Heat the oil. Very carefully, in batches, place the meatballs in the oil and brown them well on all sides over medium-low heat, turning carefully with a spatula or a fork. This should take about 10 minutes for each batch. Don't crowd the meatballs. Remove the meatballs to a plate covered with paper towels. Discard the oil but don't clean the pan.

For the sauce, heat the olive oil in the same pan. Add the onion and saute over medium heat until translucent, 5 to 10 mins. Add the garlic and cook for 1 more min. Add the wine and cook on high heat, scraping up all the brown bits in the pan, until almost all the liquid evaporates, about 3 mins. Stir in the tomatoes, parsley, salt, and pepper.

Return the meatballs to the sauce, cover, and simmer on the lowest heat for 25 to 30 mins., until the meatballs are cooked through. Slice sub rolls open, but do not separate into two pieces. Warm rolls in a 350-degree oven. Place a slice of cheese inside the roll, spoon in meatballs and sauce and serve immediately.

Serves 8-10 subs. Freeze some to use for spaghetti and meatballs or sandwiches later, if you don't use them all at once.

LEMON GARLIC VINAIGRETTE SALAD
1⁄2 c. extra virgin olive oil
1⁄2 tsp. Dijon mustard
1 clove garlic minced
1 tsp kosher salt
1/8-tsp. fresh ground pepper
Choice of mixed green lettuces

Combine the olive oil, garlic and lemon juice. Slowly add the olive oil whisking vigorously. Add the salt and pepper to suit your taste. Just before serving your dinner, toss a small amount of the vinaigrette with the lettuces.

LEMON ICEBOX CUPCAKES
1 box vanilla wafers
cupcake papers
1 6-oz. can frozen lemonade concentrate, thawed
1 can sweetened condensed milk (Eagle Brand)
1 small carton Cool Whip

Place cupcake papers in muffin pans. Place one vanilla wafer in each cupcake paper. In a large bowl, combine thawed lemonade and sweetened condensed milk. Fold in Cool Whip. Spoon Cool Whip mixture over vanilla wafers. Freeze for several hours until firm. Serve frozen. Makes 12 cupcakes.

SHOPPING LIST for Menu Wednesday #16
Meatball Subs
Lemon Garlic Vinaigrette Salad
Lemon Icebox Cupcakes

Produce
1 bunch Italian flat-leaf parsley
1 yellow onion
4 cloves garlic
choice of lettuces for salad

Pantry
fresh white bread
1 pkg. (8) sub rolls
plain bread crumbs
Italian herb blend
kosher salt
freshly ground black pepper
whole nutmeg
olive oil
1 can (28-oz.) crushed tomatoes in puree
Dijon mustard
1 box vanilla wafers
1 pkg. cupcake papers
1 can sweetened condensed milk (Eagle Brand)

Meat
1 lb. ground pork
1 lb. very lean ground beef

Dairy
1 egg
16 slices provolone or mozzarella

Freezer
1 6-oz. can frozen lemonade concentrate
1 small carton Cool Whip

Spirits
1 bottle red wine