Meatball Nirvana

Prep Time: 20 Minutes
Cook Time: 20 Minutes
Ready In: 40 Minutes
Servings: 4

1 pound extra lean ground beef
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1 small onion, diced
1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
1 1/2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
3/4 teaspoon dried oregano
3/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1 dash hot pepper sauce, or to taste
1 1/2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1/3 cup skim milk
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup seasoned bread crumbs

1. Preheat an oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
2. Place the beef into a mixing bowl, and season with salt, onion, garlic salt, Italian seasoning, oregano, red pepper flakes, hot pepper sauce, and Worcestershire sauce; mix well. Add the milk, Parmesan cheese, and bread crumbs. Mix until evenly blended, then form into 1 1/2-inch meatballs, and place onto a baking sheet.
3. Bake in the preheated oven until no longer pink in the center, 20 to 25 minutes.

Easy and Romantic Filet Mignon

Prep Time: 5 Minutes
Cook Time: 15 Minutes
Ready In: 20 Minutes
Servings: 2

2 (8 ounce) beef tenderloin steaks, cut 1 inch thick (about 1 pound total)
2 teaspoons olive oil
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
Salt and pepper to taste
2 tablespoons minced shallot
2 slices bacon

1. Place oven rack in it's highest position. Set oven to Broil.
2. Rub steaks all over with olive oil. Sprinkle with onion powder, then with salt and pepper. Wrap one slice of bacon around each steak, and secure with a toothpick.
3. Place steaks onto a broiler pan, and broil for 5 to 7 minutes. Turn the steaks over, and sprinkle the tops with shallots. Broil for an additional 5 to 7 minutes, or until the steaks are cooked to your liking.

Out Of This World Spaghetti and Meatballs

Prep Time: 15 Minutes
Cook Time: 1 Hour
Ready In: 1 Hour 15 Minutes
Servings: 8

3 tablespoons olive oil
3/4 cup chopped onion
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 (16 ounce) cans crushed tomatoes
3 (6 ounce) cans tomato paste
1 cup water
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup chopped fresh oregano, divided
1 dried bay leaf
salt and pepper to taste
1 pound ground round
1/2 cup Italian seasoned bread crumbs
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 (16 ounce) package uncooked spaghetti

1. Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat, and cook the onion until lightly brown. Mix in 2 cloves garlic, and cook 1 minute. Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, water, sugar, 1/2 the oregano, and bay leaf. Season with salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, and simmer while preparing meatballs.
2. In a bowl, mix the ground round, bread crumbs, remaining oregano, remaining garlic, parsley, eggs, and cheese. Season with salt and pepper. Roll into 1 inch balls, and drop into the sauce. Cook 40 minutes in the sauce, or until internal temperature of meatballs reaches a minimum of 160 degrees F (72 degrees C).
3. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil, and stir in the spaghetti. Cook 8 to 10 minutes, until al dente, and drain. Serve the meatballs and sauce over the cooked spaghetti.

Restaurant Style Lasagna

Prep Time: 20 Minutes
Cook Time: 40 Minutes
Ready In: 1 Hour 10 Minutes
Serves: 8

9 lasagna noodles
2 1/2 cups ricotta cheese
1 1/2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 eggs, beaten
1/2 pound lean ground beef
2 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano
1 1/2 teaspoons dried basil
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
2 teaspoons white sugar
salt and pepper to taste
3 (6.5 ounce) cans tomato sauce

1. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add lasagna noodles and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain.
2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
3. To make filling- Combine in a bowl: ricotta cheese, mozzarella, parmesan and eggs.
4. To make sauce- In a skillet, brown the ground beef until cooked through; drain grease. Combine in skillet, browned ground beef, oregano, basil, garlic powder, sugar, salt, pepper and tomato sauce. Heat through and stir.
5. In a 9x13 inch pan, alternate layers of cooked lasagna noodles, sauce, and filling, making 3 layers total. If desired, top with more mozzarella cheese. Bake for 40 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes before cutting.

Pasta Lasagna

Prep Time: 10 Minutes
Cook Time: 50 Minutes
Ready In: 1 Hour
Serves: 5

1/2 pound penne pasta
1/2 pound lean ground beef
1 (26 ounce) jar pasta sauce
1 (15 ounce) container ricotta cheese
8 ounces shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 egg, beaten

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 2 1/2 quart baking dish.
2. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain.
3. In a large skillet over medium heat, cook beef until brown; drain. Stir in pasta sauce; remove from heat.
4. In a bowl, combine ricotta, 1 cup mozzarella, Parmesan and beaten egg. Stir until well combined.
5. In the prepared dish layer half the pasta, half the sauce and half the cheese mixture. Repeat. Top with remaining mozzarella.
6. Bake in preheated oven 34 to 40 minutes, until hot and bubbly.