SANDRA'S MARVELOUS MOOSEY MINI-MEATBALL OPEN-FACED SUBS

A wonderful and very comforting meal
served with local Alaskan Summer beer.
This marinara sauce will end up being your favorite of all time,
I'm sure...

Yields: (8, 6" long sub halves)
Prep: 15 Mins. 

Bake: 15 Mins. (Meatballs)
Bake: 5 to 7 Mins. (French Bread halves)
Simmer: 30 Mins.

INGREDIENTS

1" Mini-Meatballs:
--(Yields: 48 mini-meatballs)
1 lb. extra-lean burger (I used moose) 

1 large egg, slightly beaten

2 tablespoons milk

1/2 cup panko (Japanese breadcrumbs), or regular
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese

1 garlic clove, minced

3 tablespoons red onion, finely minced

½ teaspoon ground mustard

½ teaspoon celery seeds

kosher salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

Be sure to have
Alaskan Summer Beer
on hand...

Marinara Sauce:
--(Yields: 5 cups)
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
4 garlic cloves, minced
Pinch of red pepper flakes
2 teaspoons Italian seasoning herbs
2 teaspoons onion granules
1 (14 oz. can) Italian stewed tomatoes, with juices, broken into small pieces
2 (14 oz. cans) tomato sauce
2 teaspoons honey
1 teaspoon kosher salt
2 teaspoons aged balsamic vinegar

Subs:
1 Loaf of Sandra's Homemade French Bread
2 cups shredded mozzarella
2 cups shredded romaine

METHOD

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with tin foil, spray with oil, and set aside.

In a medium bowl, mix together burger, beaten egg, milk, panko, parmesan cheese, minced garlic, minced onion, ground mustard, celery seeds, kosher salt, and freshly ground pepper. Roll into 1” balls (I do so using a small scoop to ensure meatballs are of uniform size).

Par-bake in preheated oven for 15 minutes, turning once half way through.

Meanwhile, in a heavy-bottom large saucepan heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes, saute for 30 seconds.  Add the Italian seasoning, and onion granules.  Pour in tomatoes with juices, tomato sauce, honey, and kosher salt; bring sauce to a boil. Reduce heat to low, then stir in  balsamic vinegar.

Add the par-baked meatballs, and gently fold to coat with sauce. Simmer, uncovered, on low for 30 minutes, while occasionally folding to continue to coat meatballs with sauce.

In the meantime, slice the french loaf in half lengthwise, and remove a bit of bread in the middle to form a slight well, then cut each half into quarters crosswise (ending up with 8 halves). Place on a foil-lined baking sheet and bake for 5 to 7 minutes until slightly crispy and golden.  

Spread a layer of shredded romaine among each loaf half, generously top with mini-meatballs and sauce, then sprinkle with shredded mozzarella. 

Serve with plenty of napkins. ~ Enjoy!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tip:  The mini-meatballs and marinara sauce would also be fabulous if you wish to serve it over prepared spaghetti noodles.

SANDRA’S SLOW-COOKER VENISON MEATBALL and VEGETABLE STOUP

Such a delightful aroma waiting for this
meal, but oh so worth it
(Its consistency is a cross between
a soup and stew = Stoup! ;)...
 

Servings: (8 to 10)

Prep: 20 Mins.

Slow-Cooker: 4 Hrs. Total (2 Hrs. on High  +2 Hrs. on Low)

INGREDIENTS (I used all organic vegetables, and Martie's Organic Magic Mexican Seasoning)

Meatballs (can be made ahead of time and stored in freezer or refrigerator):

1 lb. extra-lean venison burger, rolled into 1” meatballs (or moose, buffalo, etc.)

1 egg, slightly beaten

2 tablespoons milk

1/2 cup homemade seasoned breadcrumbs

1 garlic clove, finely minced

3 tablespoons onion, finely minced

½ teaspoon dry mustard

½ teaspoon celery seeds

½ teaspoon Martie’s Magic Mexican Seasoning

Stoup:

4 medium red potatoes, scrubbed and cut into 1” cubes

2 carrots, scrubbed and chopped into ½” slices

3 leaks, cut in half lengthwise, washed, and sliced into 1/2 “ pieces

--(tender white and light green parts only)

2 ribs celery, chopped into ½” slices

¼ cup whole sweet peas, strings removed, and cut in half

1 small zucchini, cut into ½” slices

1 celery root, peeled, and cut into 1” cubes

1 (14.5 oz. can) diced tomatoes, undrained

1 (7 oz. can) tomato sauce

3 cups low-sodium beef broth

2 tablespoons dried minced onion

1 tablespoon worcestershire sauce

2 tablespoons white wine vinegar

1-1/2 teaspoons Martie’s Magic Mexican Seasoning

Garnish:

1 tomato, chopped

1 avocado, chopped

Fresh sprigs of parsley

METHOD

Preheat the oven to 350.  Line a baking sheet with foil, and spray with olive oil, and set aside.

In a medium bowl, mix together the meatball ingredients. Roll into 1” balls (I do so using a small scoop to ensure the meatballs are uniform in size). Place on prepared baking sheet, and par-bake for 15 minutes.

 

Meanwhile, layer the vegetables in a, cold, 5-qt. slow-cooker in order listed.  When the meatballs are par-baked, add them to the slow-cooker.  In a medium bowl, combine the remaining stoup ingredients, and pour over meatball mixture.  

Cover, and cook on high for 2 hours, then reduce to low for 2 hours, or until the vegetables are tender. 

To serve, ladle stoup into bowls, and garnish with fresh tomatoes, avocados, and a sprig of parsley. ~ Enjoy!