Tag: disney recipe

Snow White’s “Gooseberry” Pie Recipe

INTRODUCTION

Welcome back friends! This week we’ll be baking Grumpy’s “Gooseberry” Pie from Disney’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs!

This recipe is featured near the end of the film when Snow White is warming Grumpy’s heart through is stomach by baking him his own pie.

But Gooseberries are hard to track down! They were federally banned in the early 1900s due to a fungal disease called “white blister pine rust”, but the federal ban has been lifted and is on a state by state basis. They are legal here in California, but I haven’t grown any and apparently not many others have either! I found several canned options online, but the most affordable option would have been almost $30.00 for one ingredient! So we are substituting with green grapes! Hence the quotations on “Gooseberry” pie.

I found these illustrated instructions created and shared by Disney and followed them! I wrestled with the idea of making my own crust, but opted for store-bought. The finished pie had good flavor, but the texture was not what I prefer. Try it for yourself and let me know what you think!

INGREDIENTS
  • Pie crust
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 1/3 cup of sour cream or greek yogurt
  • Zest of one lemon
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons of vanilla
  • 1 cup of sugar
  • 1/3 cup of flour
  • Pinch of salt
  • 4 cups of gooseberries (or green grapes), whole or sliced

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Pre-heat the oven to 400 F. 
  2. Roll out the pie crust and press the bottom layer into a 9” pie dish.
  3. Beat the two eggs in a bowl, then add the sour cream, vanilla and lemon zest.
  4. In a separate bowl, combine the flour, sugar and salt.
  5. Gently incorporate the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients a little at a time.
  6. Once fully mixed, gently fold in the gooseberries (or green grapes).
  7. Pour the gooseberry mixture into the pie crust, distributing evenly.
  8. Lay the top layer of pie crust over the filled pie plate and use a fork to seal and design the edges. Cut a few vent slits through the top crust.
  9. Cut the excess pie dough off of the sides and roll it into a thin cylinder shape. Use this to write “Grumpy” on the top of the pie.
  10. Place the pie in the oven and bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until golden brown. 
  11. Allow to cool and enjoy!

Remy’s Ratatouille Recipe (Ratatouille)

Welcome back friends! This week we’ll be cooking Remy’s Ratatouille from one of my favorite Disney and Pixar films, Ratatouille!

This recipe is featured near the end of the film when Remy is preparing a meal for the food critic, Anton Ego. It is referred to briefly as a “peasant’s dish”, but Remy’s version ignores all labels and boils down to good food that comforts the soul.

Ratatouille is warm and comforting; the perfect main or side dish for a cool or cold day. The arrangement of vegetables within the baking dish is creative and fun to do, although give yourself enough time to mise en place before beginning! Anyone can cook, bon appetit!

INGREDIENTS

VEGETABLES

  • 2 eggplant, trimmed and very thinly sliced
  • 6-8 Roma tomatoes, trimmed and very thinly sliced
  • 2 yellow squash, trimmed and very thinly sliced
  • 2 zucchini, trimmed and very thinly sliced

SAUCE

  • 2 tablespoons of olive oil
  • 4 cloves of garlic, minced
  • 1 onion, diced
  • 1 red bell pepper, diced
  • 1 yellow bell pepper, diced
  • Pepper, to taste
  • Salt, to taste
  • 28 ounce can of crushed tomatoes
  • 2 tablespoons of fresh basil, chopped

HERB SAUCE

  • 4 tablespoons of olive oil 
  • 2 tablespoons of fresh basil, chopped
  • 1 teaspoon of garlic, minced
  • 2 tablespoons of parsley, chopped
  • 2 teaspoons of fresh thyme
  • Salt, to taste
  • Pepper, to taste
INSTRUCTIONS
  1. Slice the eggplant, tomatoes, squash, and zucchini into approximately 1-mm rounds (I used a mandolin when possible), then set aside.
  2. To make the sauce, heat the olive oil in an oven-safe pan over medium-high heat. 
  3. Sauté the onion, garlic, and bell peppers until soft (about 10 minutes), then season with salt and pepper.
  4. Add the crushed tomatoes and stir until the ingredients are fully incorporated, then remove from heat, add the basil and stir again.
  5. Pre-heat the oven for 375 F.
  6. Arrange the sliced veggies in a repeating pattern (squash, zucchini, eggplant, tomato) on top of the sauce from the outer edge to the middle of the pan, then season with salt and pepper.
  7. To prepare the herb seasoning, mix together the basil, garlic, parsley, thyme, salt, pepper, and olive oil in a small bowl. 
  8. Brush the herb seasoning over the arranged vegetables.
  9. Cut a circle of parchment paper and place it over the vegetables in the pan, then bake for 40 minutes. 
  10. Remove the parchment paper, then bake for another 20 minutes, until the vegetables are softened.
  11. Enjoy!

Linguini’s Potato and Leek Soup Recipe (Ratatouille)

Welcome back friends! This week we are cooking Linguini’s soup from one of my favorite Disney and Pixar films, Ratatouille!

This is referred to as Linguini’s soup by the staff at Gusteau’s restaurant, but we all know Linguini made a mess of it and Remy couldn’t resist doctoring it up to make it more palatable before escaping from the kitchen.

It is never said what kind of soup this is, but judging by what Remy adds, we can conclude it is probably a variation of potato and leek soup! This soup is creamy and filling, the perfect cozy dinner on a cold night!

INGREDIENTS
  • 3 tablespoons of unsalted butter
  • 3 cloves of garlic, peeled and smashed
  • 4 large leeks, white and light green parts only, roughly chopped
  • 1⁄4 teaspoon of ground black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon of salt
  • 2 lb. of potatoes, peeled and roughly chopped
  • 6 cups of vegetable broth
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 3 sprigs of fresh thyme
  • 1 cup of heavy cream
  • Chives, finely chopped, for serving 
INSTRUCTIONS
  1. In a large soup pot or dutch oven, melt the butter over medium heat.
  2. Add the garlic, leeks, black pepper and salt. Cook, stirring regularly, until soft and wilted (about 10 to 15 minutes).
  3. Add the potatoes, broth, bay leaves and thyme to the pot, then bring to a boil.
  4. Cover the soup and turn the heat down to medium / low. 
  5. Simmer for 45 minutes, or until the potatoes are very soft.
  6. Remove from the heat, then remove the bay leaves and thyme sprigs. Purée the soup with an immersion blender until smooth. 
  7. Add the heavy cream, place back on the heat and bring to a simmer. 
  8. Taste and adjust the seasoning to your liking with salt and pepper. 
  9. Garnish with fresh herbs if desired and enjoy!

Merlin’s Soft Ginger Cookie Recipe (The Sword in the Stone)

INTRODUCTION

Welcome back friends! This week we’ll be baking Merlin’s soft ginger cookies from Disney’s The Sword in the Stone.

This recipe is featured when Arthur drops in on Merlin for the first time. Of course Merlin is expecting him, with tea and these large delicious-looking cookies waiting for him!

I am a fan of chewy cookies and these are perfect! All the taste of a gingersnap or gingerbread, but with more bounce! They pair well with black tea, but I’m sure you could experiment with other types of beverages too!

MERLIN’S SOFT GINGER COOKIES
  • 2 1/4 cups of all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons of ground ginger
  • 1 teaspoon of baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon of baking powder
  • 3/4 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon of ground cloves
  • 1/4 teaspoon of salt
  • 3/4 cup of butter, softened
  • 1 cup of sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tablespoon of water
  • 1/4 cup of molasses
  • 2 tablespoons of sugar
INSTRUCTIONS
  1. In a large bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, cloves, ginger and salt, then set this bowl aside.
  2. In another large bowl, use a hand mixer to cream together the butter and the 1 cup of sugar until light and fluffy.
  3. Add the egg and then the molasses and water to the creamed butter, and mix again thoroughly.
  4. Slowly add in the dry ingredients and mix until fully incorporated. The dough will be soft and slightly sticky when ready.
  5. Cover the bowl and place it in the refrigerator to chill for at least one hour or more, then remove the dough from the refrigerator.
  6. Preheat the oven to 350F and line a large baking sheet with a baking mat or parchment paper. 
  7. Place the remaining 1/2 cup of granulated sugar to a small mixing bowl and set it aside.
  8. Scoop out portions of 1 to 2 tablespoons of dough, rolling them into balls bout an inch to an inch and a half in diameter. Toss each cookie dough ball in the bowl of sugar to coat, then place them on the prepared baking sheet.
  9. Bake the cookies for 8 to 10 minutes (this varies per oven so keep an eye on them) or until the top of the cookie begins to crinkle and the bottom sides turn golden brown.
  10. Let cookies rest on the baking sheet for 5 to 10 minutes. Then transfer them to a wire cooking rack to cool completely.
  11. Enjoy!

Trigger’s Blackberry Pie Recipe (Robin Hood)

INTRODUCTION

Welcome back friends! This week we’ll be baking Trigger’s Blackberry Pie from Disney’s Robin Hood!

This recipe is featured when Robin Hood is discovered at Prince John’s archery competition and a fight ensues. One of the Sheriff of Nottingham’s henchmen, Trigger the vulture, is hiding out in a pie booth surrounded by these pies.

Note to self: Blackberries have seeds! This pie is sweet, tart and delicious, but there are seeds from the blackberries that startled me before I expected them! You could strain the seeds out by forcing the blackberries through a sieve. This recipe calls for whole berries, but you can adjust accordingly if the seeds throw off your groove!

TRIGGER’S BLACKBERRY PIE

CRUST

  • 2 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon of kosher salt
  • 1 cup of unsalted butter, chilled
  • 6-8 tablespoons of water, chilled

FILLING

  • 1 cup of sugar
  • 1/2 cup of flour
  • 4-6 cups of fresh blackberries
INSTRUCTIONS (CRUST)
  • Add the flour and salt to a bowl and whisk to combine.
  • Cut the chilled butter into cubes and add the cubes to the bowl of flour and salt. Using a pastry cutter, cut the butter into the flour mixture until well combined.
  • Begin adding the tablespoons of chilled water one at a time and stirring well after each addition until the dough forms.
  • Turn the dough out onto a clean flat surface and work it into a ball. Cut this ball in half and plastic wrap each piece, then set inside the refrigerator to chill for at least 1 hour.
  • Bring out the first half of the dough and roll it out until it is about 1/4 inch thick and large enough to fit into your pie pan. 
  • Gently pick up the rolled out dough and place it gently into the bottom of your pie pan, then smooth it in and trim the edges.
INSTRUCTIONS (FILLING)
  1. Pre-heat the oven to 425 F.
  2. Wash the blackberries and add them to a bowl.
  3. Add the sugar and stir until well coated, then add the flour and stir until well coated.
  4. Pour the filling into the prepared pie crust.
  5. Bring out the second half of the dough and roll it out until it is about 1/4 inch thick and large enough to cover your pie.
  6. Gently pick up the rolled out dough and place it gently over the top of the pie, then trim the edges.
  7. Using a fork or your fingers, crimp or pinch the edges.
  8. Add 3 to 4 slits for venting while the pie bakes.
  9. Cover the edges of the pie with a 2 to 3 inch strip of foil to prevent excessive browning.
  10. Bake for 45-55 minutes or until the crust is golden brown and juice begins to bubble through the slits in crust, remove the foil for the last 15 minutes of baking. 
  11. Remove from the oven and allow it to cool on the rack at least 2 hours or more to allow the filling to thicken.
  12. Enjoy!

WDP Roasted Peanut Recipe (Dumbo)

WDP Peanut Recipe
INTRODUCTION

Welcome back friends! We took a little break from creating Disney recipes, but I’ve missed this, so we’re picking things back up again! This month we’ll be roasting the peanuts from the WDP Circus in Disney’s Dumbo.

This recipe is featured twice in the film. Timothy mouse is snacking on them when he first meets Dumbo, and when Dumbo stretches his ears to fly, he sucks them up and sprays over all the rude elephants.

I love salted peanuts! These are brined to get the salted flavor within the the shell, then tossed with peanut oil and salt before roasting. These are a healthy and delicious snack, I hope you enjoy them!

WDP Peanut Recipe
WDP Peanut Recipe
WDP CIRCUS’S ROASTED PEANUTS
  • 1 1/2 pounds in-shell raw dried peanuts
  • 2 quarts of water
  • 1/2 cup of kosher salt
  • 2 tablespoons of peanut oil
  • 2 tablespoons of kosher salt
INSTRUCTIONS
  1. Thoroughly rinse the peanuts under cool water to remove any excess dirt.
  2. In a large bowl or pot, dissolve the 1/2 cup of salt in the water, then add the peanuts. 
  3. Place a plate over the water’s surface to ensure the peanuts are submerged and brine for 24 hours.
  4. Drain the water, and spread the peanuts on baking sheets in a single layer to dry (this may take several days).
  5. Once the peanuts are dry, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
  6. Place the peanuts in a large bowl and toss them with the peanut oil and salt until well coated.
  7. Spread the peanuts back out onto baking sheets in a single layer. 
  8. Roast in the oven for 40 to 45 minutes, rotating the pan(s) after 20 minutes. Everyone’s oven is different, so keep an eye on them so they won’t burn!
  9. Remove the peanuts from the oven. They will continue to “cook” and become crunchy as they cool.
  10. Allow them to cool before eating and enjoy!
WDP Peanut Recipe

The Hua Family Pork Dumpling Recipe (Mulan)

The Faa Family and Mushu's Pork Dumpling or Potsticker Recipe from Disney's Mulan.INTRODUCTION

Welcome back friends! This week we’ll be cooking up the dumplings or potstickers featured in Disney’s Mulan.

Mushu's Happy Porridge and Faa Family Dumpling Recipe from Disney's Mulan.This recipe is featured twice, once when the Hua family is eating dinner before Mulan departs for training, and again when Mushu pulls one out to roast towards the end of the film.

The Faa Family and Mushu's Pork Dumpling or Potsticker Recipe from Disney's Mulan. The Faa Family and Mushu's Pork Dumpling or Potsticker Recipe from Disney's Mulan.Dumplings, in this case potstickers, are delicious! This recipe would have been (and could be) easier if I had used store-bought wonton wrappers, but I was looking in the wrong place and couldn’t find them. It’s a happy accident though, now the whole recipe has been made from scratch!

The Faa Family and Mushu's Pork Dumpling or Potsticker Recipe from Disney's Mulan. The Faa Family and Mushu's Pork Dumpling or Potsticker Recipe from Disney's Mulan. The Faa Family and Mushu's Pork Dumpling or Potsticker Recipe from Disney's Mulan.DUMPLING DOUGH
  • 2 cups of all-purpose flour (plus a little extra for kneading)
  • 1 egg
  • 3⁄4 teaspoon of salt
  • 1⁄2 cup of water
  • Cornstarch (for rolling out the dough)
INSTRUCTIONS (DUMPLING DOUGH)
  1. Place the flour into a large bowl.
  2. In a separate bowl, whisk together the egg, salt, and water.
  3. Create a well in the center of the flour and pour in the wet ingredients.
  4. Mix everything together with a spoon (or your hands), until the mixture begins to come together.
  5. Turn the dough onto a hard surface, dusted with flour and knead for about 3 to 5 minutes. The dough should be firm, but smooth when you are done. If your dough is too tacky, add a little extra flour to your counter.
  6. Place the dough back in a floured bowl, cover it with a damp towel, and let it rest for 1 hour.
  7. Divide the dough in half. Cover one half of the dough with your towel.
  8. Lightly dust your counter-top with cornstarch (NOT flour), and roll half of the dough as thin as you can. Mine came out a little thick. but it worked out just fine!
  9. Cut the sheet into 3 inch circles (you can use a cookie cutter, I used a cup).
  10. Repeat with the remaining dough until you’ve cut the maximum number of circles.
PORK DUMPLINGS (POTSTICKERS)
  • 1/2 pound ground pork
  • 1/2 cup chopped head cabbage
  • 1/4 cup finely chopped green onion
  • 3/4 teaspoon of sesame oil (or more to taste)
  • 1 lightly beaten egg white
  • 6 Tablespoon vegetable oil (for light frying)
INSTRUCTIONS (PORK DUMPLINGS)
  1. Season the ground pork to your preference and cook it In a skillet on medium high heat until it’s golden brown.
  2. Add the chopped cabbage and green onion to the skillet midway through so they can cook and get soft as the ground pork finishes.
  3. Place the individual dumpling wrappers on a clean, dry surface and scoop about a tablespoon of filling in the center of each one.
  4. Moisten the edge of each wrapper with the beaten egg white before folding.
  5. Pull the edge of each wrapper over the filling and use your fingers to crimp the edge into a folded fan pattern (see images above).
  6. Add 3 to 6 tablespoons of vegetable oil to a wok or deep skillet on medium heat.
  7. Place the dumplings in single layer on the bottom of pan and fry them on each surface until browned (about 2 to 3 minutes each side).
  8. Remove from the heat and enjoy!

Mushu’s Happy Porridge Recipe (Mulan)

Mushu's Happy Porridge Recipe from Disney's Mulan.INTRODUCTION

Welcome back friends! This week we’ll be cooking the happy porridge Mushu serves to Mulan in Disney’s Mulan.

Mushu's Happy Porridge and Faa Family Dumpling Recipe from Disney's Mulan.This recipe is featured when Mulan is about to start her training. Mushu wakes her up the first morning with this happy breakfast to get her day started!

Mushu's Happy Porridge Recipe from Disney's Mulan.You can see little grains of rice in the porridge Mushu holds out to Mulan so to stay as true to the recipe from the film as I could I made congee. Congee is a type of porridge created with rice and enjoyed in China. It’s super easy to make and super delicious! I also chose to make the eggs in a muffin tin and the bacon on a baking sheet so I could cook them all at once and it was easier to keep them in the correct shape for the happy face on the porridge.

Mushu's Happy Porridge Recipe from Disney's Mulan.MUSHU’S HAPPY PORRIDGE
  • 4 cups of chicken broth
  • 4 cups of water
  • 1 cup of jasmine rice
  • Salt to taste
INSTRUCTIONS (PORRIDGE)
  1. Bring the 4 cups of water and 4 cups of chicken broth to a boil in a medium to large pot.
  2. Add the rice and bring the combination back to a boil.
  3. Lower the heat and let it gently simmer with a partially closed lid, stirring occasionally to prevent the rice from sticking to the bottom of the pot.
  4. The longer the porridge cooks the thicker it will get, keep in mind it also gets thicker after it’s cooled off. Once you are happy with the consistency, remove your porridge from the heat.
  5. Season with salt to your taste.
  6. Serve Mushu’s happy porridge in a bowl, arranging 2 cooked eggs and a bacon slice (see below) to look like a happy face on top.
  7. Enjoy!
BACON AND EGGS
  • 8 eggs
  • 4 slices of bacon
INSTRUCTIONS (BACON AND EGGS)
  1. Preheat the oven to 350F.
  2. Grease 8 cups of a muffin or cupcake tin.
  3. Gently crack and place an uncooked egg into each greased cup of the muffin or cupcake tin. I personally only used the yolk and half of the white of each egg, but you can use the whole egg if preferred!
  4. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.
  5. Cut each slice of bacon in half and line the pieces out on the prepared baking sheet.
  6. Place the eggs and bacon in the preheated oven to cook. The eggs will take about 15 minutes and the bacon will take about 25 minutes, but keep an eye on them as every oven is different!
  7. Carefully (because they’re hot) remove the eggs and bacon from the pans and arrange them on the porridge (see above).
  8. Enjoy!

Lady’s Doughnut Recipe (Lady and the Tramp)

Lady's Doughnut or Donut Recipe from Disney's Lady and the Tramp.INTRODUCTION

Welcome back friends! This week we’ll be frying the Doughnuts (or Donuts) Jim Dear and Darling give Lady in Disney’s Lady and the Tramp!

Tony's Spaghetti and Meatball Recipe and Lady's Donut Recipe from Disney's Lady and the Tramp.These doughnuts are featured during a breakfast scene after Lady retrieves Jim Dear’s paper. Darling offers Lady a doughnut and Jim Dear offers her coffee to dunk it in.

Lady's Doughnut or Donut Recipe from Disney's Lady and the Tramp.I knew I wanted to make old fashioned buttermilk doughnuts with a simple glaze. I considered making cake donuts, but deep frying seemed like so much more fun! If you’ve never deep fried anything before, be very careful! I use a very heavy dutch oven and a frying thermometer, heating the oil up a little at a time so it doesn’t get too hot too fast!

Lady's Doughnut or Donut Recipe from Disney's Lady and the Tramp. Lady's Doughnut or Donut Recipe from Disney's Lady and the Tramp.DOUGHNUTS (DONUTS)
  • 4 tablespoons of butter, melted
  • 1 cup of sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 egg yolk
  • 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
  • 2 teaspoons of baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon of nutmeg
  • 1/2 teaspoon of salt
  • 3 1/2 cups of flour, sifted
  • 3/4 cup of buttermilk
  • 6 cups of canola or vegetable oil
INSTRUCTIONS (DOUGHNUTS)
  1. In a large bowl, mix the melted butter and sugar until they form a light, sandy texture.
  2. Add the eggs one at a time, followed by the egg yolk, and then the vanilla extract.
  3. Stir in the baking powder, baking soda, nutmeg and salt.
  4. Begin adding in one cup of flour, followed by 1⁄4 cup of buttermilk. Continue alternating the flour and buttermilk, ending with the flour.
  5. The dough will be very sticky. Flour your hands and sprinkle a little on the dough, cover it with plastic wrap and chill it in the fridge for at least an 1 hour.
  6. In a large heavy bottomed sauce pot (I use my dutch oven), slowly heat the oil to about 325F as read on a candy or deep fry thermometer.
  7. While the oil heats, flour a large flat work surface and roll the dough out, flouring it liberally if needed to prevent sticking. Roll out to about 1⁄2″ thickness.
  8. Using a doughnut cutter, cut out doughnut shapes. Keep re-rolling and cutting the dough as needed.
  9. When oil is hot, gently slide the doughnuts into the pan using a slotted wire spoon to prevent splashing.
  10. Fry the doughnuts for about 90 seconds per side, or until a deep golden brown then remove them from the oil and place a wire rack set over a rimmed baking sheet.
GLAZE
  • 2 teaspoons of corn syrup
  • 3 1/2 cups of powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon of vanilla
  • 1⁄3 cup of hot water
INSTRUCTIONS (GLAZE)
  1. Combine all of the glaze ingredients in a saucepan and stir until smooth.
  2. Place the warm doughnuts into the glaze mixture one at a time.
  3. Use a fork or spoon to turn them over and coat them completely in the glaze.
  4. Place the glazed doughnuts back onto the wire rack to set for about 20 minutes.
  5. Enjoy on them on their own, or dunked in coffee!

Tony’s Spaghetti and Meatball Recipe (Lady and the Tramp)

Tony's Spaghetti and Meatball Recipe from Disney's Lady and the Tramp. Tony's Spaghetti and Meatball Recipe from Disney's Lady and the Tramp.INTRODUCTION

Welcome back friends! This week we’ll be cooking the Spaghetti that Tony serves Lady and Tramp in Disney’s Lady and the Tramp!

Tony's Spaghetti and Meatball Recipe and Lady's Donut Recipe from Disney's Lady and the Tramp.This recipe is featured when the Tramp takes Lady out to one of his favorite places to eat, Tony’s Restaurant. Once Tony notices Tramp is not alone and has brought Lady with him, he decides to treat this as a special night and serves them spaghetti and meatballs, then serenades them with “Bella Notte’.

Tony's Spaghetti and Meatball Recipe from Disney's Lady and the Tramp.Spaghetti and meatballs are quite fun to make and did I mention delicious? I had to stop myself from snacking on the meatballs before I was done making the pasta! My only regret is that I didn’t make the pasta or the sauce completely from scratch. I chose the timesavers path and used pre-packaged pasta, canned tomatoes and tomato paste. The good news is, most of us do not have time to make everything from scratch, but I do look forward to revisiting this recipe in the future to bring you everything from scratch!

Tony's Spaghetti and Meatball Recipe from Disney's Lady and the Tramp.SAUCE
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1/2 teaspoon of minced garlic
  • 3 tablespoons of grated onion
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons of dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon of pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon of salt
  • 1 tablespoon of sugar
  • 2 – 28 ounce cans of diced tomatoes, undrained
  • 1 – 12 ounce can of tomato paste
  • 1 cup of water
INSTRUCTIONS (SAUCE)
  1. Combine all the sauce ingredients together in a dutch oven.
  2. Bring the sauce to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer (uncovered) for about an hour and 15 minutes.
  3. While the sauce is simmering prepare the meatballs (see below).
MEATBALLS
  • 6 slices of day-old bread, torn into pieces
  • 1/2 cup of water
  • 3/4 teaspoon of salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon of minced garlic
  • 1/4 teaspoon of pepper
  • 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
  • 1/2 cup of grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 tablespoons of minced fresh parsley
  • 1 pound of ground beef
INSTRUCTIONS (MEATBALLS)
  1. While the sauce simmers, soak the bread in the water until fully saturated.
  2. Squeeze the excess water out of the bread, then place it in a large bowl.
  3. Add the beef, eggs, garlic, parmesan cheese, parsley, pepper and salt; mix well.
  4. Shape the mixture into meatballs 1 1/2 inches in diameter and place them on a rack over a shallow baking pan.
  5. Pre-heat the oven to 400F.
  6. Bake the meatballs, uncovered for about 20 minutes or until they are no longer pink then remove them from the oven and prepare the spaghetti (see below).
SPAGHETTI
  • 12 cups of water
  • 3 tablespoons of salt
  • 8 ounces of spaghetti noodles
INSTRUCTIONS (SPAGHETTI)
  1. Bring the water to a rolling boil.Add the salt and allow the water to return to a boil.
  2. Add the pasta to the salted, boiling water and stir.
  3. Bring the water back up to a boil again (don’t cover), then lower the heat slightly to avoid the pot boiling over and cook for as long as directed on the packet.
  4. Once done, drain the pasta.
  5. Remove the bay leaf from the finished sauce (see above) and add the spaghetti, stirring to coat.
  6. Place the meatballs (see above) into the spaghetti and sauce, and simmer until heated through.
  7. Garnish with parmesan cheese if desired, and enjoy!