Super Yummy Spaghetti & Meatballs

We had this for dinner last night, and it is hands down the best sauce and meatballs I've ever had! I actually tripled the meatballs, flash froze 2/3 of them, then bagged them in the freezer to use another day, since they're the most time consuming part of this recipe. 

Ingredients

Meatballs

2/3 lb lean ground beef

1/3 lb sausage (like Bob Evans)

1 cup Italian seasoned bread crumbs

1 TBSP dried parsley

1 TBSP grated Parmesan cheese

1/4 tsp black pepper

1/8 tsp garlic powder

1 egg, beaten

Sauce

5 cloves of garlic, minced

1/4 cup olive oil

2 (28 ounce) cans whole peeled tomatoes

1-2 tsp salt (to taste)

1 tsp white sugar

1 bay leaf

1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste

3/4 tsp dried basil

1/2 tsp ground black pepper

1 1/2 tsp Italian seasoning 

Directions

1. In a large bowl, combine ground beef, bread crumbs, parsley, Parmesan, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, garlic powder and beaten egg. Mix well and form into 12 balls. Store, covered, in refrigerator until needed.
2. In a large saucepan over medium heat, garlic in olive oil for a minute or two, being careful not to let it burn. Stir in tomatoes, salt, sugar and bay leaf. Cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer 90 minutes. Stir in tomato paste, basil, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, Italian seasoning and meatballs and simmer 30 minutes more. (Water can be added throughout if the sauce becomes too reduced.) Serve.

Hands & Feet Rudolph Ornament

We have 3 of these little guys on our tree! I did them with my oldest daughter a few years ago when she was three, and I loved them so much that I did them again this year with my little one! My sister even made a tiny one last year with my itty bitty baby nephew.

This is a great project to do with toddler & preschool aged kids. My 2 year old loves having her hands traced!

Materials

2 different colors of crafting foam – brown, tan, or white

ribbon

googley eyes

red gem or pompom

black Sharpie or puff paint

glue – I used glue made especially for foam, but I’m sure tacky glue or even Elmer’s would work. Use what you have. :)

Start by tracing one foot and both hands onto a piece of foam. If you can only get in one hand tracing, you use it as a pattern – remembering to flip it so you have one hand going in each direction.

Cut everything out. 

 

Obviously the side you drew on will be the back side. Apply glue to the top of the foot and place the antlers (hands) on. 

Decide what length of ribbon you want, cut it to size, and glue it on. 

Flip your little reindeer over, glue on his eyes & nose, give him a mouth, and you’re done! Grandparents love these little reindeer!