Dante helping us cook!

This is our favorite video - Mom was visiting and we were making gravy, meatballs & lasagna. Dante helped out by cleaning out the ricotta container!!!

Cocktail Meatball Appetizer

Cocktail Meatballs

Easiest, most delicious appetizer! There are never leftovers!

Ingredients:
1 bottle 12 oz chili sauce
12 oz ketchup
1/2 can jellied cranberry
Bag of frozen appetizer meatballs (We use Trader Joe's Party Sized Mini-Meatballs)

Put ingredients in pot on the stove, let cook. Add meatballs, simmer for at least 20 minutes.

Source: Not quite sure...

This dish does not take pretty pictures :)

Orange Chocolate Chip Cookies

This is a recipe from Dan's childhood that he wanted to make. I was skeptical of the orange & chocolate chips, but it was delicious!!


Orange Drop Chocolate Chip Cookies

Source: 1975 Betty Crocker Cooky Book

2 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2/3 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup sugar
1 egg, room temperature
1/2 cup orange juice
2 tablespoons orange zest, grated
1/2 cup chocolate chips

Directions
1)Heat oven to 400F
2)Mix together flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Set aside.
3)In another large mixing bowl, mix butter, sugar and egg thoroughly. Stir in orange juice and rind.
4)Sift dry ingredients into wet ingredients and blend together.
5)Drop rounded teaspoonfuls of dough about 2" apart on ungreased baking sheet.
6)Bake 8-10 minutes or until delicately browned on edges.
7)Remove from cookie sheets and cool completely. Store in an airtight container.

Chicken Parm Meatball Subs

Ingredients
1 1/2 pounds ground chicken
1 tablespoon various seasonings
1 large egg
1/2 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
1/2 cup Italian bread crumbs
EVOO
Salt
Pepper
Crusty sub rolls
Sliced Mozzarella

Directions
Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.

Place chicken in a bowl and season. Add egg, grated cheese, bread crumbs, and a serious drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil to the bowl. Mix the meat and form 12 large meatballs. Squish the balls to flatten them a bit like mini oval meatloaves. Be careful not to form the balls wider than your bread. Bake the meatballs 15 minutes until golden and firm. Switch the broiler on.


Cut sub rolls making the bottom a little deeper than the top. Hollow out a little bread and lightly toast the sub rolls under broiler. Fill the bottoms of the breads with flattened balls and sauce. Cover the subs with cheese and return to broiler to melt the cheese until golden.

Adapted from Rachel Ray

Recipes to try in 2009

Here are some recipes I'd really like to try in 2009:

Chicken Parm Meatball Subs

Parmesan Orzo

Chicken Stuffed Shells

This will be good for Superbowl!
Buffalo Chicken Dip

Thai Style Chicken Fried Rice

Ricotta Gnocchi with Tomato Cream Sauce

Weight Watchers Penne Vodka

I hope I have a chance to try them all! So many cooking blogs out there & so many fun recipes :)