One thing that I never really appreciated until I left the US was game day food. Now, I never actually went to any game day party (except for the superbowl…funny because I don’t even watch football) but watching all the little sports food cooking videos on Facebook made me really miss good old ‘Merican food. Luckily this weeks menu will help me get my fix. Today we’re cooking Pigskin Potatoes and Super Sub Balls. Let’s get cooking!
This trip to the grocery store wasn’t anxiety inducing for once! I first stopped by Vivi market since they’re known for importing odd American products. I figured that would be the one place I’d be able to find Worcestershire sauce, but alas, they didn’t have it. I knew I wouldn’t be able to find in anywhere in Italy so I sadly scratched that off my shopping list.
Next I headed to Conad where I was able to find every other ingredient I needed. I never thought in a million years that that would happen. I didn’t feel rushed while loading all of my groceries into my bags either. This shopping trip = a total win.
I arrived home, and shortly after Stef and I got to work. As always, we started with chopping. Stef chopped up all the potatoes, threw some spices on them, then we let them roast in the oven. She chopped up so many that we had to cook them in two batches since we only have one baking sheet.
I took care of forming all the meatballs since meat freaks Stef out, but I didn’t mind. I felt as though I was a sculptor creating award winning beautiful meatballs. I’m not very artistic, but these turned out beautifully! If there was a beauty pageant for meatballs these would win. They were also beautiful on the inside because they were stuffed with provolone cheese — which I might add was the BEST provolone cheese I’ve had in my whole life. No exaggeration.
While I formed the balls, Stef made an herby marinara sauce for dunking. As the meatballs cooked, the smell wafting from the kitchen was nearly irresistible. We were so excited when it came time for the moment of truth.
We dunked the meatballs in the sauce then piled them into our subs. Our mouths were watering for this moment of truth. 3…2…1…. SCORE! I’m a newly found meatball lover and these may be the best I have ever tasted. I downed the sandwich so quickly. The potatoes were also a hole-in-one! Probably the best potato wedge recipe to date from Rachel Ray. I would’ve eaten more if I hadn’t stuffed my face with provolone while everything was cooking.
Now time for the ratings. The Pigskin Potatoes receive ♥♥♥♥♥ (5) hearts. I don’t think anyone can ever go wrong with potatoes, but Rachael Ray hit these out of the ball park with the spice mixture: salt, pepper, paprika, & garlic powder. I plan on making these often since they’re extremely easy and so delicious. The Super Sub Balls also receive ♥♥♥♥♥ (5) hearts. These balls were a knockout! I love meatballs, but I was a little skeptical about slam dunking them into the sauce — I’ve never been a sauce person — but the whole sandwich was a home run!
Sports food is great food, and this week’s menu made me want to host a watch party…I’m not very into sports though, so I’ll just make this for next year’s Miss USA watch party. Pageantry is the top tier sport, don’t even try to argue with me! Maybe I’ll make this at a watch party for my future husband and his friends…only time will tell.
Fino alla prossima settimana! (Until next week!)
-Mary Honkus
Chronicles of EVOO 