pepper
Man Cave Meatballs
Dad deserves a delicious dish for Father’s Day, and this one is hearty enough for a Man Cave meal, and elegant enough for a gourmet dinner! Who doesn’t love a giant juicy meatball surrounded by melted cheesey deliciousness hiding inside a delicate puff pastry? They are so easy to prepare, and it all starts with puff pastry sheets. The only tricky thing about this recipe is to remember to buy the puff pastry sheets (they will be frozen) and let them thaw out in the refrigerator overnight. (Never thaw the puff pastry sheets on the counter at room temperature. You’ll end up with a doughy mess!)
Other than that, it’s a breeze! I love meatballs that have an equal amount of beef and pork or pork Italian sausage, although I’ve made these with turkey meatballs and they’re just as delicious!
The original recipe calls for adding raw onion and garlic to the meatball mixture, but I always sauté the onion and garlic first, then let it cool down before adding it to the mixture. By doing that, you’ll get a richer, sweeter flavor out of the meatballs!
Happy Father’s Day, Dads! Let’s hope meatballs are on your Father’s Day menu!
Watch my How To Video for Meatballs in Puff Pastry here!
Cheesy Mega-Meatballs in Puff Pastry
BBQ Pork Ribs
Church fund-raising cookbooks are generally compilations of recipes by the family and friends of the church-goes. But in the case of The Bishop’s Bounty Cookbook; Food from Heaven that Tastes Divine, the book highlights the life, accomplishments and abundant recipes of the Bishop himself, The Most Reverend Charles Pascal Greco from the Diocese of Alexandria, Louisiana. I like to think that finding this old cookbook was a gift from above, since it has so many easy and delicious dishes in it, many of which are Father Greco’s authentic recipes. Throughout the chapters, you not only get great meal ideas but also a glimpse into one life that accomplished many things. Father Greco, born in 1894, built churches, schools, camps and even a ninety-six foot ship for “children to play and adults to sit and relax.” The Star of the Sea took five years to complete. But more than anything the Bishop loved to cook and share his recipes with anyone and everyone one. I chose the Chinese Barbecued Ribs because it’s so simple and savory! It makes enough to load up a platter and share, a notion that I think Father Greco would find absolutely heavenly.
Chinese BBQ Pork Ribs
Eggplant Parmesan
From my Momma’s kitchen to yours this Mother’s Day, here’s a favorite D’Atri family recipe. Momma’s Eggplant Parmesan Casserole is the ultimate comfort food, and as all moms know, casseroles are a secret weapon in the kitchen! They can be made ahead and frozen until ready for use. They feed a hungry crowd and they always seem to taste better the next day. My Momma figured out years ago how to get the eggplant softened and yet still have the pan-grilled flavor. Her homemade marinara sauce only takes twenty minutes to make from start to finish. The combination of the two is a match made in heaven! I think these days we are having a lot of family meals together and this is a great dish that can be enjoyed piping hot right out of the oven! Surprise Mom this year with a casserole of comfort!
Watch my How to Video Here!
