Homemade Spaghetti and Meatballs

So as coincidence would have it, tonight my son wanted to make homemade spaghetti and meatballs.  Never one to turn the boy down, I thawed out some hamburger, found the flour, and we started cooking.

As a meal to make with your kids, spaghetti and meatballs is pretty good.  Most kids like it and though there is a not-so-trivial effort in handmaking noodles and meatballs, a lot of that effort can be done by even the youngest child.  On the other hand, it’s not exactly a speedy process.  In order to constantly give your children tasks to do, make sure you follow the order as I have it laid out here.  That way, something is always cooking.

Homemade Spaghetti and Meatballs Recipe

Real quick, here is the general order of things:

1. Thaw the meat
2. Make the noodle dough
3. Mix and roll the meatballs
4. Cut the noodles
5. Cook the meatballs
6. Start the sauce
7. Cook the noodles
8. EAT!

Like I said, lots of steps.  But none too terribly difficult.  Oh, and to save on time, you can use storebought sauce if you’d like.

You will need:

• 2 pounds hamburger
• 3 cups flour + more for bench flour
• Salt to taste
• 3 tablespoons garlic powder (divided)
• 7 eggs (divided)
• 1/4 cup breadcrumbs
• 1 tablepsoon Parsley
• 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese
• Black pepper to taste
• 4 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 Jars of tomato sauce

Step1: Thaw two pounds of hamburger  (done!)

Step 2: In a big bowl, mix the flour,  a healthy pinch of salt, and 1 tablespoon of garlic powder.   Make a well in the middle of the flour and add 4 eggs plus 1 yolk.  Mix well.  You may need to add a little water to the mixture, but what you are looking for is something that looks almost like dough, but is in large clumps.

Pour the clumps out on the table and knead with your hand until you have dough.  Wrap in plastic wrap and put in the refrigerator until you have the meatballs rolled out.  (done!)

Step 3: In a mixing bowl, add the thawed hamburger, 2 eggs, the rest of the garlic powder, breadcrumbs, all the parsely, Parmesan cheese, and black pepper to taste.  Mix well and then roll into quarter-sized balls.  (done!)

Step 4: Noodle time!  Divide the dough ball into quarters.  Roll out each quarter so that it is about 1/8-1/4 of an inch thick.  Use a pizza cutter to cut out the noodles.  Don’t worry too much about the size or width, just cut them.  Spread them out on a cookie sheet to let them dry.  (done!)

Step 5: Pour the olive oil into a skillet and get it hot over medium-high heat.  Add the meatballs and cook for 4 minutes.  Then flip and cook for four more.  (done!)

Step 6: Pour in two jars of sauce. (done!)

Step 7: Get a pot of well-salted water boiling and add the noodles.  Cook for about 2-3 minutes (fresh pasta cooks very quickly.)  Try a noodle.  If it’s al dente, it’s ready to go. (done!)

Step 8: Enjoy! (done!)