Crock Pot Italian Wedding Soup

I am Italian and have never had a really decent Italian wedding soup unless it was homemade. Usually it has noddles in them, but you really don't need them, and really with this recipe you wont need them.

for the little meatballs

• 1 lb lean ground beef
• 1/2 cup seasoned bread crumbs
• 1 egg
• 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
• 1 Tablespoon parsley
• a pinch of red pepper flakes
  
• salt, pepper and garlic powder to taste

Mix together in a bowl. Roll into little meatballs (about a 1/2 an inch). Place on foil lined baking sheet and bake at 400 for 15 minutes.

In the crock pot add 8 cups of chicken broth. Add in--

• 1 chopped white onion
• 1 Tablespoon chopped garlic
• 1 small zucchini chopped
• 1 box frozen chopped spinach
• 1 Tablespoon dried parsley
• 1 Roma tomato seeded and chopped
• a pinch of salt
• teaspoon black pepper

When the meatballs are done add them to the crock pot. Simmer on low for 6 hours or high for 3-4 hours. About 30 minutes before eating, mix together 1 egg with 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese. Mix together and swirl into soup. This soup is SO yummy.

Veal meatballs in home made marinara

I had a random pound of ground veal I needed to use up. I had made meatloaf, burgers and chili this passed week. I decided to make meatballs and I had no desire to go out and buy additional meat. So I made just veal meatballs and my goodness they were delicious!

• 1 lb ground veal
• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
• 1/2 cup Italian bread crumbs
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 2 Tablespoons chopped garlic
• 1 teaspoon each salt, pepper and dried oregano

Mix all ingredients in large bowl. Form one inch balls. Bake at 400 degrees for 20-25 minutes. These were so freakin good. And the great thing about veal is per pound contains less calories and half the fat of lean ground beef. Serve with your favorite sauce, or use my homemade simple marinara recipe.

In a sauce pan heat 2 Tablespoons chopped garlic with 1 teaspoon salt and pepper. Add in 1 28 ounce can crushed tomatoes. Mix in 1 jar tomato paste, 1/4 cup fresh basil and 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes. Simmer on low for an hour. Mix in meatballs. Eat, enjoy, repeat.

My Momma's Meatballs- WLS modified!

Some days I just want some yummy Italian meatballs! My mom makes these every Christmas with baked ziti. I love 'em plain!

• 1 lb lean ground beef (or meatball mix if you have it)



• 1/2 cup Italian style bread crumbs



• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese



• 2 eggs (scrambled)



• 2 pieces of bread soaked in milk



• 2 Tablespoons fresh basil



• 2 Tablespoons fresh oregano



• 2 Tablespoons fresh parsley



• 2 Tablespoons garlic powder



• 8 ounces fresh mozzarella cheese



• salt and pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 375. In a bowl add all the ingredients, except the mozzarella cheese. Make sure all the spices are chopped fine. For the bread, soak 2 pieces in a bowl of milk, before adding the bread, squeeze out excess milk and tear into little pieces (Just a side note, if you have cats, please watch this bowl at all times or else you will enter your kitchen to find your fat cat drinking out of your bread bowl.) Mix everything together, your hands work best for this. Form meatballs into about an inch round ball. Chop the mozzarella cheese and stick a piece into the middle of each ball, making sure the meat covers the cheese completely. Arrange on lightly oiled baking sheet.

Bake for about 25-30 minutes. Or until completely cooked through. Add to sauce and enjoy!