We are going through some CRAZY weather here in Southern California, like Costa Rica, Maui weather, just without the mosquitoes. T H A N K H E A V E N ! ! ! Weather like this all you can do is hide out in your house and watch Netflix all day, right?? With the house like a icebox I have a hankering for comfort food, it might just be the heat exhaustion talking.
I don't know about you but, I have had my fair share of watermelon, summer fruit and seasonal salads. But, with the winds changing (in our case the lack of any breeze to cool us off) and moving into late summer I think I am ready for some cozy meals. Something with in-season tomatoes, peppers and squash. Something that allows me to turn on my oven for a little bit. SERIOUSLY...it might be heat exhaustion!
My nephew has been staying with us which turns on mommy mode, hard core. Stop touching that, stop running, stop chasing the dogs, stop chasing the chickens, stop playing on your Kindle - your eyes are going to turn into squares. That last one doesn't work on this generation. But, when he asked for Meatball Subs on a 90 degree July day, I said YES!!! Let's put that Marinara Therapy to good use and crank up the AC.
This recipe is mostly assembly if you have already stashed away some Marinara Therapy but, I do have a sneaky little treat in here for you! Auntie needed a little glass of wine today so, she made Pinot Noir Caramelized Onions!!!
Serves 6 (hungry nephews on a 90 degree day)
Ingredients for Herbivores:
1 large red onion thinly sliced
2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
2 cups of Pinot Noir
16 oz bag of frozen meatless meatballs (my favorite are Trader Joe's Meatless Meatballs)
1 Stash of "Marinara Therapy"
Ingredients for Caveman:
Yummy thick sliced provolone cheese
*Turkey meatballs (optional)
Hints:
1.) Heat oil in a large sauce pan over low-medium heat
2.) Add thinly sliced onions to olive oil and simmer til fragrant and becoming that beautiful carmel color
3.) Once the onions are nice and soft start adding the Pinot Noir large splashes at a time. Let the liquid evaporate and continue til you have added all the yummy Pinot. This is a slow process but, will be well worth it!!
4.) Combine meatless meatballs and "Marinara Therapy" in a deep skillet and bring to a boil. Once at a boil, reduce heat and simmer until the meatless meatballs are cooked through
*If your caveman opts to have meaty meatballs, at this point combine meaty meatballs with 1 cup of the "Marinara Therapy" in a seperate skillet and follow the same directions as the vegan option. Please follow the directions on the meatballs that you have selected for cook time, please ensure meatless meatballs are cooking throughout. Best part is taste-testing one before committing.
5.) I like my buns toasty so if you do too, the very last step before assembly is to place the buns on a cooking sheet and place in the oven at 350 until they have a nice golden crust look to them.
6.) Assembly time!!! Stuff each bun with a messy yummy meatball mix, top with Pinot Noir onions. For your caveman top with thick slices of provolone cheese (yuuuummmmm) and place back in the oven to get them all melty! About 1-2 minutes.
7.) Shove your faces full of yummy warm goodness!