meatball subs

i've really got to start checking my pantry for things instead of assuming i have them. and not only checking, but checking before i start cooking instead of when i need said item.

i could have sworn we had two jars of pasta sauce. yet somehow, we really had none. luckily i had a small can of diced tomatoes on hand just for instances like this. i sauteed some diced onion and minced garlic in olive oil until the onion became translucent. added the tomatoes and cooked it about 10 minutes, until the tomatoes were broken down. added a good handful of chopped basil and blended it all with my stick blender (a regular blender would work too). it was a perfect replacement. and since it came out a little thicker than the jarred stuff, we used it on the side to dip our sandwiches in.

this was a quick and easy weeknight dinner. make sure you have everything on hand and don't bake your subs too long, or the tops will burn like mine.

meatball subs
meatballs inspired by cook-eat-love

1/2 pound lean ground beef
1 egg
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
1/2 cup italian bread crumbs
1 clove garlic, minced
salt & pepper
jar of your favorite pasta sauce
2 sub rolls
1/2 cup grated mozzarella cheese

1. preheat oven to 400F. mix the beef, egg, cheese, bread crumbs, and garlic. season with salt & pepper.
2. shape the meatballs using your hands and place each into a mini muffin tin.
3. bake for 20 minutes, until golden brown and crispy.
4. while the meatballs are cooking, heat the pasta sauce on the stove.
5. when the meatballs are done cooking, keep the oven on and put the meatballs in the sauce and cover with sauce. let simmer about 5 minutes.
6. slice open the sub rolls and line up meatballs inside. cover with mozzarella. bake in the oven about 3 minutes, or until the cheese melts and the rolls have started to crisp. be careful, it will burn fast!

2014.04.06 this was edesia's notebook's pick for the secret recipe club!