Meatball Soup

You will need the meatballs from the recipe below. Make sure to make them into bit-sized balls.

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, 2 turns of the pan in a slow stream
2 carrots, peeled and chopped
2 ribs celery, chopped
1 medium onion, chopped
2 bay leaves, fresh or dried
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
8 cups chicken stock or broth
2 cups water
1 & ½ cup cups dried pasta (something small)
1-pound washed fresh spinach, coarsely chopped

Bring chicken stock to a boil, and then add the meatballs. Bring back to a boil, and then turn down to a simmer adding the remainder of the ingredients, excluding the spinach. Let cook for about 30 to 45 minutes or until the veggies are tender, and then add the spinach and pasta. Cook until the pasta in al dente, which is about 7-10 minutes. Serve with crusty bread.

Simple Meatballs

1/4-cup plain dried breadcrumbs

2 large eggs, lightly beaten

1/2 cup grated Parmesan (fresh is way better than the stuff that comes in the container with the green lid)

1/4 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley

1 small onion, grated finely

2 cloves of garlic, grated finely

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

1-pound turkey (or you can do ½ lb ground sirloin and ½ lb pork)

In a large bowl, combine breadcrumbs, eggs, milk, 1/2 cup of the Parmesan and the parsley, and mix well; season with salt and pepper. Add meat and gently combine, being careful not to overwork the meat. Shape into bite-size meatballs.

With these meatballs you can make:

Spaghetti and Meatballs (just use your favorite jar of red sauce)

Baked Mostaccioli with Meatballs

Meatball Soup

Meatball Sandwiches