Serves 6-8

Meatballs

Ingredients

Olive oil
1 lb ground beef
1 lb spicy Italian sausage, ground
1 bulb garlic, chopped fine (2 tablespoons reserved for sauce)
½ cup fresh parsley, chopped fine (2 tablespoons reserved for sauce)
½ cup fresh basil, chopped fine (2 tablespoons reserved for sauce)
½ cup fresh marjoram, chopped fine (2 tablespoons reserved for sauce)
½ cup fresh oregano, chopped fine (2 tablespoons reserved for sauce)
1 tablespoon salt
1 tablespoon cracked pepper
1-3 teaspoons red chili flakes (for spicier meatballs use 3 teaspoons)
½ cup pine nuts, chopped fine
½ cup currants
½ cup Kashi Whole Grains Nuggets or Grape Nuts (substitute with breadcrumbs)
2 eggs, beaten

Sauce

Ingredients

Olive oil
2 tablespoons garlic, chopped fine (reserved from above)
2 tablespoons each fresh parsley, basil, marjoram, and oregano, chopped fine (reserved from above)
2 lbs plum tomatoes, diced fine
½ cup red wine
1 tablespoon salt
1 tablespoon cracked pepper

Directions

To make the meatballs, mix ground beef and ground sausage with garlic, fresh herbs, salt, pepper and chili flakes. Use fingers to mix well and squish ingredients together. Make sure the mixture is well blended. Add the chopped pine nuts, Kashi cereal and the currants and again mix very well using fingers. Add the beaten eggs and mix until all ingredients are well combined and moistened by the eggs. The eggs should cause the mixture to bind and stick together.

Form mixture into about 1 to 1¼ inch balls and set aside.

In a large, deep heavy bottom pan heat a few tablespoons of olive oil to a high heat. Sauté meatballs in batches by rolling them around on all sides until well browned. Then, transfer them to another plate with paper towels to absorb any grease.

After all the meatballs are cooked, lower the temperature of the same pan and add another tablespoon of olive oil if necessary. Sauté the garlic until translucent about 1-2 minutes. Add the fresh herbs and tomatoes, stirring well so to loosen the meatball scraps from the bottom of the pan. Add the red wine and the salt and pepper, again stirring to deglaze the pan. Bring to a low boil for about five minutes. Turn the burner on low and add the meatballs to the sauce stirring gently until the meatballs are covered in the tomato mixture. Cook on low temperature for approximately 30 minutes, making sure you stir gently every few minutes being careful not to break apart the meatballs.

Herbed Polenta

Serves 6

Ingredients

6 cups water
Salt
2 cups yellow or white cornmeal
½ cup parmesan, grated
½ cup milk
½ stick (4 tablespoons) butter
2 tablespoons fresh rosemary leaves, chopped
2 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves, chopped
2 tablespoons fresh parsley leaves, chopped
Freshly cracked black pepper

Directions

Bring water and salt in a heavy bottom saucepan to a boil, add cornmeal, and whisk well. Reduce heat to low, and cook until thick and tender, whisking regularly, about 10-15 minutes. Remove from heat and add the cheese, milk, butter, herbs, and cracked pepper. Stir well until all is melted and incorporated.