The Conservative Cave

Interests => All Things Edible (and how to prepare them) => Topic started by: soleil on October 29, 2010, 12:51:46 PM

Title: Spaghetti and meatballs or spaghetti and meat sauce?
Post by: soleil on October 29, 2010, 12:51:46 PM
Love both soooooo much, but I love meatballs.
Title: Re: Spaghetti and meatballs or spaghetti and meat sauce?
Post by: Thor on October 29, 2010, 02:51:19 PM
I prefer meat sauce.  Meatballs are OK once in a while.
Title: Re: Spaghetti and meatballs or spaghetti and meat sauce?
Post by: soleil on October 29, 2010, 07:47:34 PM
I prefer meat sauce.  Meatballs are OK once in a while.

I am picky about my meatballs, but I prefer a really good meatball to meat sauce. I always do meat sauce when I cook sketti because my meatballs ain't all that.
Title: Re: Spaghetti and meatballs or spaghetti and meat sauce?
Post by: Chris_ on October 29, 2010, 07:49:33 PM
Eh.  I prefer meatballs most of the time but a good meat sauce with lots of interesting cheeses is good, too.
Title: Re: Spaghetti and meatballs or spaghetti and meat sauce?
Post by: IassaFTots on October 29, 2010, 07:52:58 PM
Meatballs.  MY meatballs.  Or Italian Sausage, sliced.  I don't like plain ole ground meat in my sauce. 
Title: Re: Spaghetti and meatballs or spaghetti and meat sauce?
Post by: Chris_ on October 29, 2010, 07:54:06 PM
I mentioned this before, but my friend's wife made me dinner one night and she puts a couple jalapenos in her meat sauce.  It was really good.  They were cut very fine... you could taste them but it was all flavor and no heat.
Title: Re: Spaghetti and meatballs or spaghetti and meat sauce?
Post by: soleil on October 29, 2010, 08:03:33 PM
Meatballs.  MY meatballs.  Or Italian Sausage, sliced.  I don't like plain ole ground meat in my sauce. 

I am not a big sausage fan, and I can't stand hunks of any kind of sausage in my food. Poor hubby. He could live off of sausage alone.
Title: Re: Spaghetti and meatballs or spaghetti and meat sauce?
Post by: Carl on October 29, 2010, 08:04:25 PM
Meat sauce,preferably with ground venison sausage.
Title: Re: Spaghetti and meatballs or spaghetti and meat sauce?
Post by: Chris_ on October 29, 2010, 08:04:47 PM
I tried mixing chorizo in my meatloaf one day... it didn't turn out that great.  Maybe I didn't mix it well enough.
Title: Re: Spaghetti and meatballs or spaghetti and meat sauce?
Post by: soleil on October 29, 2010, 08:08:21 PM
I tried mixing chorizo in my meatloaf one day... it didn't turn out that great.  Maybe I didn't mix it well enough.

Was it too salty?
Title: Re: Spaghetti and meatballs or spaghetti and meat sauce?
Post by: Chris_ on October 29, 2010, 08:11:00 PM
No, it wasn't salty, but I had dense chunks of chorizo in my beef.  I think it was more of a texture thing since the beef overpowered any flavor the chorizo has.  I think chorizo is better in lighter dishes with rice like jambalaya or paella or maybe cous cous.  At least that's what I normally use it for. 

I'm tempted to try it on pizza at some point.  I may pick up a couple of plain cheese pizzas this weekend and try it along with a barbeque chicken pizza.
Title: Re: Spaghetti and meatballs or spaghetti and meat sauce?
Post by: IassaFTots on October 29, 2010, 08:11:46 PM
Was it too salty?

Prolly too greasy.
Title: Re: Spaghetti and meatballs or spaghetti and meat sauce?
Post by: Chris_ on October 29, 2010, 08:15:13 PM
Prolly too greasy.

I use ground sausage, not the solid/whole stuff.  I think it tastes better.

My mom put some in her "chili" once... it was too hot to eat.  Ouch.
Title: Re: Spaghetti and meatballs or spaghetti and meat sauce?
Post by: IassaFTots on October 29, 2010, 08:17:34 PM
I use ground sausage, not the solid/whole stuff.  I think it tastes better.

My mom put some in her "chili" once... it was too hot to eat.  Ouch.

Chili is supposed to be hot.   :-)
Title: Re: Spaghetti and meatballs or spaghetti and meat sauce?
Post by: Chris_ on October 29, 2010, 08:18:10 PM
Chili is supposed to be hot.   :-)

You don't use boiling water to take a shower, do you?  Same thing.  It was unreal.  No subtlety, no nuance, no flavor.  Just burn.  Maybe she was getting even with me for the jerk chicken I made once.  I admit I messed up.  You don't need to try to kill me over it.

Besides, she only cooked it for like half an hour.  That's got to be against the rules.
Title: Re: Spaghetti and meatballs or spaghetti and meat sauce?
Post by: true_blood on October 29, 2010, 08:25:08 PM
Spaghetti and meat sauce for me please! :-)
I could substitute the meat sauce for Italian sausages any day though.  :drool:
Title: Re: Spaghetti and meatballs or spaghetti and meat sauce?
Post by: IassaFTots on October 30, 2010, 07:29:56 AM
You don't use boiling water to take a shower, do you?  Same thing.  It was unreal.  No subtlety, no nuance, no flavor.  Just burn.  Maybe she was getting even with me for the jerk chicken I made once.  I admit I messed up.  You don't need to try to kill me over it.

Besides, she only cooked it for like half an hour.  That's got to be against the rules.


Sounds like a payback to me!
Title: Re: Spaghetti and meatballs or spaghetti and meat sauce?
Post by: debk on October 30, 2010, 07:41:55 AM
Meat sauce... but rarely make or eat it anymore. Prefer more of a pomodoro.

I buy those frozen Italian meatballs that are about an inch or so in diameter. Found some really good ones at Walmart last winter, they probably don't even still carry them. ::) I add seasoning to them, bake them, then add them to sauce and cook in the crockpot for several hours. I either serve them on rolls or in bowls with shredded parmasean and garlic Texas toast.
Title: Re: Spaghetti and meatballs or spaghetti and meat sauce?
Post by: Eupher on October 30, 2010, 10:25:07 AM
Meatballs.  MY meatballs.  Or Italian Sausage, sliced.  I don't like plain ole ground meat in my sauce. 

Same here.
Title: Re: Spaghetti and meatballs or spaghetti and meat sauce?
Post by: Thor on October 30, 2010, 10:28:37 AM
It depends on my mood and ambition. Sometimes, I just use plain ground meat  with an onion and garlic base. Sometimes I'll use ground meat AND Italian sausage.
Title: Re: Spaghetti and meatballs or spaghetti and meat sauce?
Post by: TVDOC on October 30, 2010, 12:19:11 PM
In Italy pasta is served as a "side dish", much like potatoes or rice is here.  We got our meatball recipe from a chef in Florence, and they are served as the main dish, with the pasta on the side.

These meatballs are made with a mixture (equal portions) of ground beef, ground Italian sausage, and lamb or veal, mixed with Italian spices, crushed roasted garlic, finely chopped onion, and tiny cubes (or shredded) of mozzarella. After making the meatballs, they are dumped (raw) into the marinara, which is "simmered" for a minimum of four hours.  I know many will differ, but we never fry or bake them, they are far better if cooked in the sauce.

They are kind of a pain in the ass to make, but we use them primarily around the holidays, and generally make up several pounds of them at a time, and freeze them for later use.

doc
Title: Re: Spaghetti and meatballs or spaghetti and meat sauce?
Post by: Thor on October 30, 2010, 05:24:27 PM
The best store bought meatball are made by Simek's. They're a processor up Nort in Minnsota. Yah, you betcha !! :yum: I don't like the ones at Sams or Walmart because they're "Italian" spiced  meatballs.  They're OK with spaghetti, but no other decent use.
Title: Re: Spaghetti and meatballs or spaghetti and meat sauce?
Post by: Chris_ on October 30, 2010, 05:30:36 PM
I don't normally make spaghetti and meatballs, but I saw a neat trick on some cooking show today.  It's similar to the Juicy Lucy burger -- it's just a cube of cheese wrapped in ground beef and cooked.  Might be worth trying.
Title: Re: Spaghetti and meatballs or spaghetti and meat sauce?
Post by: TVDOC on October 30, 2010, 06:01:43 PM
The best store bought meatball are made by Simek's. They're a processor up Nort in Minnsota. Yah, you betcha !! :yum: I don't like the ones at Sams or Walmart because they're "Italian" spiced  meatballs.  They're OK with spaghetti, but no other decent use.

Speaking of meatballs and Minnestoa.....when I lived up there, Swedish meatballs were the rage back then......I have no clue how to make them, especially the sauce, but they were good.

doc
Title: Re: Spaghetti and meatballs or spaghetti and meat sauce?
Post by: soleil on October 31, 2010, 05:33:28 PM
In Italy pasta is served as a "side dish", much like potatoes or rice is here.  We got our meatball recipe from a chef in Florence, and they are served as the main dish, with the pasta on the side.

These meatballs are made with a mixture (equal portions) of ground beef, ground Italian sausage, and lamb or veal, mixed with Italian spices, crushed roasted garlic, finely chopped onion, and tiny cubes (or shredded) of mozzarella. After making the meatballs, they are dumped (raw) into the marinara, which is "simmered" for a minimum of four hours.  I know many will differ, but we never fry or bake them, they are far better if cooked in the sauce.

They are kind of a pain in the ass to make, but we use them primarily around the holidays, and generally make up several pounds of them at a time, and freeze them for later use.

doc

My aunt went to a cooking school in Italy a couple of summers ago. She said the same thing. She also said they eat a lot, but they are all fairly small people. I guess it is what they eat. She said the food was PHENOMENAL. I bet it was.
Title: Re: Spaghetti and meatballs or spaghetti and meat sauce?
Post by: debk on October 31, 2010, 08:47:44 PM
My aunt went to a cooking school in Italy a couple of summers ago. She said the same thing. She also said they eat a lot, but they are all fairly small people. I guess it is what they eat. She said the food was PHENOMENAL. I bet it was.

The food is phenomenal....and the desserts are so incredible!!!

The difference is, in Italy, they walk all over the place!!! It is the most amazing thing to watch Italian women, in spike heels, blithely walk along on cobblestones. I'm such a klutz, I had trouble in flat leather walking shoes or a pair of sneakers!!

I would love to go to a cooking school in the Tuscany area. 
Title: Re: Spaghetti and meatballs or spaghetti and meat sauce?
Post by: soleil on October 31, 2010, 09:18:49 PM
The food is phenomenal....and the desserts are so incredible!!!

The difference is, in Italy, they walk all over the place!!! It is the most amazing thing to watch Italian women, in spike heels, blithely walk along on cobblestones. I'm such a klutz, I had trouble in flat leather walking shoes or a pair of sneakers!!

I would love to go to a cooking school in the Tuscany area.  

She was in Sorento. They cooked brick oven pizza in this ancient brick oven. She said is was unbelievable. The pics were amazing. Italy is my choice of places to go if I ever get to pick. She did visit several Italian cities, and my baby got some awesome clothes from Italy because of it.  :-) Oh, and I did to (my lovely Prada purse thanks to Florence)!
Title: Re: Spaghetti and meatballs or spaghetti and meat sauce?
Post by: debk on November 01, 2010, 10:07:17 AM
She was in Sorento. They cooked brick oven pizza in this ancient brick oven. She said is was unbelievable. The pics were amazing. Italy is my choice of places to go if I ever get to pick. She did visit several Italian cities, and my baby got some awesome clothes from Italy because of it.  :-) Oh, and I did to (my lovely Prada purse thanks to Florence)!

I went to Sorrento my first trip. It is sooooo beautiful there!! Bought some gorgeous pottery too.  :-) We went to Isle of Capri while there and to the Blue Grotto. Good thing no one told me before going what I would have to do to get into the Grotto, or I would never have done it! I was the littlest one of the 3 of us in this very dinky little rowboat - besides the boatman - and I had to lay down in the bow of the boat until we got through the tunnel opening to the Grotto. The boatman had to stand - but bend over almost at a right angle - to grab a cable to pull the boat through the short tunnel. It was not only dark, but very closed in....all the while these waves are crashing through. Scared the hell out of me!!! It was worth it though....until we had to get back out! Once we got back to Capri....I was sampling the Limoncello quite a bit... :-)

A friend is a travel agent for AAA here, and she used to do a trip every spring for women only to Europe. It was extremely reasonable for 12 days ($2000) and included airfare, hotel, bus travel, tour guides, and half of the meals. I went 3 different years, and that was how I got to see so many places over there.

Then twice, she and I and 2 other women, went to Greece on one trip and back to Italy on another for 12 days. We went on our frequent flyer points and stayed in quite nice but super cheap places. We spent the night in Athens in a room with a bath, and a small connecting room with 2 beds and a sink - for $25 each, and that included breakfast buffet. It was quite clean, and had a rooftop bar with a view of the Acropolis!! We stayed 4 nights in Italy, a small village - Manarola - in the Cinque Terre - all in the same room - one bath - breakfast included....for $25 a night. All we had to do was walk down the hill and we were in the village....right on the Mediterranean.

There are ways to get cheaply around Europe if you have someone that knows what they are doing and knows what to look for in finding a place to stay. After going on these trips, I would rather stay in small, clean places that are very economical and a more European atmosphere....rather than a big hotel, especially one that has been "Americanized".