Grandma Gallo's Italian Meatballs

SOUTHFIELD, Mich. - This recipe comes courtesy of Rose Gallo, grandmother of FOX 2's Taryn Asher.

Ingredients:
1lb beef
1/4lb pork
3 tbs roasted eggplant
1 Cup of bread crumbs
1/2 cup Parmesan
1/2 cup Mozarella
1/4 cup shaved onion
4 leaves of basil (chopped)
1/2 tsp pepper
1/4 cup of parsley
1tbs lawry's season salt or regular salt
1tsp garlic powder
splash red wine
touch crushed red pepper (optional)

Method:
Either buy roasted eggplant or ahead of time bake whole egglplant until soft (about 30min) peel it and mash the insides. You only need 3 tbs.

Make your sauce to cook the meatballs first. (recipe below)

To make meatballs combine all ingredients and knead with hands until all ingredients are blended.

Take olive oil rub in hands and roll your meatballs!

Cook in sauce on low to medium for 30 minutes.

SAUCE:

Ingredients:
4 leaves of basil
1/4 cup olive oil
2 cloves of minced garlic
1/4 cup of onion shaved
12 oz of diced tomato sauce
15 oz plain tomato sauce
1/2 can chicken broth
touch of red wine to taste

Approximately (season to taste)
1tsp lawry's salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1tsp garlic powder

Method:
Saute olive oil, garlic, shaved onion and basil -DON'T ALLOW IT TO BURN

Add diced tomatos, tomato sauce, and half of the sauce can of chicken broth (water will work if you don't have chicken broth)

Cook and stir for a few minutes on medium heat and then proceed to add salt, pepper, garlic powder, and splash of wine.

Cook on medium for 5 minutes stirring and tasting...before you add your meatballs ! COOK FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES AND THEN MIX IN YOUR PASTA!

I hope you and your family enjoy my grandmother's meatballs as much as we have through the years!