Tag Archives: Meatballs

Pasta Meatball Stew

Spring may have arrived, but that that doesn’t mean we can’t still enjoy hearty stews or soups.   Pasta Meatball Stew is a delicious stew that I enjoy year-round.  It is very easy to prepare and makes for a perfect dinner.

Using frozen meatballs are a great time saver.  I prefer the Cooked Perfect Brand, but feel free to use your favorite brand.

If you are looking for a delicious and easy stew, give this one a try.

Pasta Meatball Stew

  • Servings: 6
  • Difficulty: easy
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32 Cooked Perfect Frozen Meatballs, Bite Size

1 cup chopped onion
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1-1/2 cups beef broth
1 can (14-1/2 ounces) diced tomatoes, undrained
1 small can (8 ounces) tomato sauce
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
1/4 teaspoon basil
1 1/2 cups chopped zucchini
1 cup chopped green pepper
1 cup chopped sweet red pepper

2 cups cooked fusili pasta

Sauté the onions, carrots, zucchini, green and red peppers in the olive oil, just till onions are tender, about 5 minutes.  Whisk in flour.

Gradually add beef broth, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce and tomato paste, stirring constantly.  Cook  and stir 1-2 minutes or until slightly thickened.  Add the salt, pepper, garlic powder, oregano, and basil and stir to combine.  Add in the frozen meatballs, making sure they are covered with the sauce.

Bring to a boil and then reduce the heat; cover and simmer about 15 minutes or until vegetables are tender and meatballs are heated through, stirring occasionally.  Stir in the cooked pasta.  Serve hot.  Store leftovers in a covered container in the refrigerator.

Notes:
1.  I used half of a bag of the Cooked Perfect Meatballs.
2.  Inspired by a recipe from Taste of Home.

Below is a photo of one of the first robins spotted in my yard a few days ago.    Always glad when they return.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Grape Jelly Meatballs

These easy and delicious Grape Jelly Meatballs are a perfect appetizer for game day.  They are also great served with rice as a main dish.  I made the ones in this post for today’s Super Bowl Sunday game.

You only need three simple ingredients to make this delicious appetizer: grape jelly, chili sauce, and frozen cooked meatballs.  I used the Cooked Perfect brand of meatballs.  They are flame broiled and bite size and taste homemade.

Some recipes use BBQ sauce or ketchup instead of the chile sauce, but I prefer the flavor of the chili sauce.  I used the Heinz brand but you can use your favorite brand.

Grape Jelly Meatballs

  • Servings: 6-8
  • Difficulty: easy
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1 jar (18 ounces) grape jelly
1 bottle (12 ounce) Heinz Chili Sauce
32 ounces frozen fully cooked meatballs such as Cooked Perfect Homestyle Meatballs

In a small bowl, combine the grape jelly and chili sauce.  Set aside.  Place the frozen meatballs in the slow cooker.  Add the grape jelly and chili sauce mixture.  Stir until the meatballs are coated in the grape jelly and chili sauce mixture.

Cover and cook on low for 3-4 hours, stirring halfway through cooking.  Serve as an appetizer or over rice as a main dish.  Store leftovers in a covered container in the refrigerator.

I’m not a fan of football, but I do enjoy the food we make and entertainment for the Super Bowl games.  One of the entertainers this year Is rapper Eminem (Marshall Mathers) a Detroit native and star of the movie, “8Mile”.  The rest of the entertainment lineup sounds great also.

While it will be hot where the big game will be played, that is not the case here in West Michigan.  The current temperature here is 19°F with a lot of snow still on the ground.

Below is a photo of a squirrel that comes around almost daily looking for peanuts.