MOMMA Da FINO’S SPAGHETTI & MEATBALLS

Momma Da Fino’s Spaghetti & Meatballs

As all you Achievers know, the Dude didn’t care too much for that creep DaFino. Following the Dude around all the time, making remarks about Dudes Special Lady Friend and what not, and suggesting to The Dude that they pool their resources, “Fuck-Off Da Fino,” the Dude retorts to that.

A lot of good came out of that encounter between The Dude and Da Fino though. “Certain Things Came to Light” about Bunny. “Who The Fuck are the Knutsen’s?”

But even better than the Dude finding out about the Knutsen’s and other things coming to light, New Shit, Da Fino dropped a piece of paper with his mother’s Meatball recipe on it. Dude picked it up, and the Dude doesn’t have a problem using a recipe from someone he doesn’t like, “two different things,” and ole Duder can separate them, “No Problemo!”

 It’s a great Meatball recipe and illustrates the many uses of tomato sauce. You make a good sized batch of tomato sauce and as it’s simmering, you mix up the ground meat and other ingredients to make the meatballs. You round off the Meatballs, then throw them into the sauce to cook for about 35 minutes, cook some Spaghetti and when it’s done, “Voila” you’ve got yourself some fine Spaghetti & Meatballs. If you’re smart, you’ll make a double batch of both the tomato sauce and the Meatballs, so you’ll have leftover Meatballs to make “Meatball Parm Sandwiches” for the next day or two. “Tony Bag of Donuts” suggested this to the Dude. It’s a great idea, and something most Italians do every time they make a batch. It’s an Italian-American ritual in fact, and Dude likes to do it too.

DUDES ENCOUNTER with Da FINO

Dude: Huh?

Da Fino: A Dick, Man! And let me tell you something, I dig your work. Playing one side against the other—in Bed with everybody – Fabulous Stuff Man.

Dude: I’m not a—ah, Fuck it, just stay away from my fucking Lady Friend, Man!

Da Fino: Hey, hey, I’m not messing with your Special Lady –

Dude: She’s not my Special Lady, she’s my Fucking Lady Friend. I’m just helping her conceive man!

Da Fino: Maybe we can trade information, pool our resources?

Dude: Fuck Off Da Fino !!!!

SPECIAL MEATBALLS Recipe

 1 lb. ground Beef

½ lb. ground Veal

½ Pound Ground Pork

4 Tbs. fresh Italian Parsley, chopped

1 minced onion

2 cloves garlic, minced

4 Tablespoons plain breadcrumbs

2 large eggs

Salt & pepper

½ cup grated Parmesan or Pecorino

 Note: If you want, instead of this beef, pork and veal proportions, you can use just Beef (2 lbs.) or 1 lb. Ground Beef & 1 lb. Veal.

PREPARATION:

 In a small bowl, break and beat eggs. Add breadcrumbs and let soak for 6 minutes.

In a large bowl, add all the remaining ingredients. Add eggs and mix well with your hands.

Shape meat mixture to form balls that are about 2 inches in diameter.

Coat the bottom of a cookie sheet or roasting pan with a thin film of olive oil. Cook Meatballs at 350 degrees for 10 minutes.

Make batch of Dudes Tomato Sauce (pg. 106). When the Sauce is finished cooking and the meatballs have partially cooked in the oven for 10 minutes, take meatballs out of oven and simmer for 35 in a the tomato sauce.

Serve Meatballs with Spaghetti for the Classic Italian American favorite Spaghetti and Meatballs or do as the Italians do, especially the Neapolitans and serve the sauce first with Spaghetti, Rigatoni, or ziti. Serve the Meatballs as the main course with a Salad or potatoes on the side.

The SAUCE :

3-28 oz. cans of good quality Crushed Tomatoes

always buy them “when?” That’s right, ON SALE

1 medium onion cut into a small dice

9 cloves of Garlic, peeled and finely diced

¼ cup Italian Olive Oil

¼ teaspoon of salt and ¼ teaspoon

of Crushed Red Pepper

14 fresh basil Leaves minced or

¼ teaspoon Dried Basil

1 lb. Of Dried Italian made Spaghetti

½ lb. Good quality grated Pecorino Romano or Parmigiano Reggiano

Place Olive Oil and onions in at least a 3 Qt. Pot. Set on stove over a medium flame. Cook for 2 minutes, then add the minced garlic and cook for three minutes. Add the crushed red pepper and cook for 1 minute.

Add the tomatoes. Turn the flame up to high until the sauce comes to the boil. Lower heat to a very low flame. If you are using Dried Basil, you will add in now. If you are using fresh Basil you will add it in the last 10 minutes of cooking.

Simmer the sauce over low heat for about 30 minutes. Stir the sauce and the bottom of the pot with a wooden spoon every two minutes to keep the sauce from sticking to the bottom of the pot and burning.

The sauce is done after 30 minutes, turn the gas off.

To cook the Spaghetti you should have a large 6 qt. Pot filled with water. Bring the water to the boil and add 2 Tablespoon of salt to the water. Add the pasta and cook according to the directions on the package.

Drain the pasta in a colander then place the spaghetti in a large Pasta Serving Bowl. Sprinkle on about 1 tbs. Of olive oil and toss the spaghetti. Add a cup and a half of the tomato sauce to the spaghetti and toss. Serve four equal portions of spaghetti on 4 plates or pasta bowls. Top each serving of spaghetti with about 1/3 of a cup of sauce and serve.

Put a bowl of the grated cheese on the table and let everybody help themselves. “Bon Appetito”

Excerpted from GOT ANY KAHLUA ?  The COLLECTED RECIPES of THE DUDE

by Daniel Zwicke