Irene! There goes my weekend cookout. Have to think hurricane cooking rather than warm, blissful, August weather with sunny skies and no clouds cooking.
The cousins are probably still coming. So I have to think ahead. I remember one time when I was a kid and my parents had invited family for New Year’s Eve and there was such a big snowstorm that no one could go home. Fortunately my mother always had a freezerful of food so no one went hungry.
I am going to spend today following my mother’s lead.
Chicken cutlets: already made.
Tomato Sauce: already made.
Really, you can’t get enough of that kind of dinner can you? Add a salad, sauteed spinach and a bowl of pasta and we’re done! Assuming we have power, that is.
I also made some meatballs. Here’s where I am like my mother-in-law, who always made at least 2 main courses when company was coming, just in case someone didn’t like one of them, there was always the other.
And I will make some delicious dessert that we can eat whatever happens with the weather and whether or not anyone comes.
Here’s the meatball recipe.
Meatballs
1/2 pound ground beef
1/2 pound ground veal
1/2 pound ground turkey
3 tablespoons finely chopped fresh parsley
2 large eggs
3/4 cup flavored bread crumbs
salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
optional: 1/2 cup grated Parmesan and/or Romano cheese
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees (375 for convection). Mix the meats together in a large bowl. Add the parsley, eggs, bread crumbs and salt and pepper to taste (also the cheese if you use it). Mix thoroughly. Make 12-16 meatballs, depending on the size you like. Place the meatballs on a foil-lined cookie sheet. Bake for 12 minutes, turn, bake for another 12 minutes. Use plain or place in marinara sauce for about 15 minutes and serve with the sauce. Makes 12-16, serving 4