I must admit for most of my adult life I’ve never made spaghetti sauce from scratch. With so many good pre-made sauces on the market, I usually stock up when there’s a sale and (occasionally) doctor it up with some fresh herbs or tomatoes. Can I get an “amen?” Browsing through one of my favorite slow cooker cookbooks – Better Homes and Gardens Year-Round Slow Cooker Recipes – I found a recipe for arrabbiata sauce. I was intrigued because I’d never heard of arrabbiata sauce. After a little research, I discovered that “arrabbiata” is Italian for “angry.” The sauce gets its name from the burn of the crushed red peppers. Most everything about this recipe sounded great, but of course I had to add my own twists to make it more of something I’d want to eat. So I exchanged pancetta for bacon and I added a cup of Cabernet Sauvignon wine to the recipe. I thought if the sauce was going to be “angry,” then being a little “boozy” couldn’t hurt!
Arrabbiata Sauce with Turkey Meatballs
The arrabbiata sauce is extremely easy to make. Your slow cooker does most of the heavy lifting. To start the recipe, I browned the onion, bacon and garlic in a skillet – then transferred the contents to my slow cooker. You add all the rest of the ingredients (except for the pasta and meatballs – those come later!) into your slow cooker and give it a good stir. Set it on HIGH and put on the lid. Walk away for 4 to 5 hours and the sauce will be “perfetto!” About 45 minutes before your arrabbiata sauce is done, you’ll want to start making the turkey meatballs. I used pre-seasoned panko breadcrumbs with Italian seasoning spices, but you can use standard panko breadcrumbs and add in the Italian seasoning by hand. The mixture of the panko, butter and egg help bind the ingredients, and make for a great carmelized “crust” on the outside of the meatballs. I tend to like larger meatballs, so that requires even cooking. The trick is not to rush the browning process, so never go higher than medium-high heat. I don’t make homemade meatballs that often. Usually, I’ll just brown ground turkey into my sauce and make whatever sauce I’m using a meat sauce. But these turkey meatballs were to die for! Well worth the effort. You may want to make a double batch; they freeze well. Cook your pasta according to package directions. I used rotini pasta, but you can easily substitute your favorite pasta or what you have in your pantry. If you’re only having pasta for a meal, I like to use a bowl. It makes it easier to cover the pasta with sauce, without wasting a lot covering the entire length of a plate. Then pile on the meatballs and pour a healthy serving of arrabbiata sauce over it all. Top it with shredded Parmesan cheese and you’ve got a great weekday dinner or weekend lunch that’s good enough for company. I ended up adding Cabernet Sauvignon to this arrabbiata sauce recipe to make it “less angry.” What’s your favorite ingredient to add to spaghetti sauce?
56 ounces diced tomatoes with basil, garlic and oregano, undrained
15 ounces tomato sauce
2 teaspoons dried parsley
1 teaspoon dried oregano, crushed
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 teaspoon dried basil, crushed
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
1 cup Cabernet Sauvignon, or any dry red wine
8 servings cooked rotini pasta
1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
For Meatballs:
1 cup panko breadcrumbs
20 ounces ground turkey, 93% lean
1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
1 tablespoon dried parsley
2 medium onions, minced
2 eggs
1 tablespoon butter, room temperature
1 teaspoon sea salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
For Sauce:
In a skillet, cook the onion, bacon and garlic over medium heat until onion is tender and bacon is browned.
Transfer mixture to a 5-quart slow cooker. Set skillet aside to use when cooking meatballs later.
Stir in the tomatoes, tomato sauce, parsley, oregano, basil, salt, and crushed red pepper. Cover and cook on HIGH for 4 hours (or on LOW for 8 to 10 hours).
Serve over pasta and turkey meatballs. Sprinkle each serving with Parmesan cheese, if desired.
For Meatballs:
In a large bowl, thoroughly combine ground turkey, breadcrumbs, Italian seasoning, dried parsley, mined onions, eggs, butter, salt and pepper.
By hand, form golf ball-sized meatballs and place in cooled skillet (used when browning onion and bacon mixture earlier). Makes about 16 meatballs, or 2 per serving. Feel free to make your meatballs smaller or larger, based on your preference. But make all meatballs uniform in size so they cook evenly.
Place skillet with meatballs on burner at medium-high heat. Every 5 minutes or so, turn meatballs so that all sides will eventually brown and meatballs will be evenly cooked. Watch carefully and remove meatballs from skillet when done. Set aside to serve with arrabbiata sauce and pasta.
Notes
Sauce portion of this recipe lightly adapted from Better Homes & Gardens "Year-Round Slow Cooker Recipes"
When you think about classic American foods, the cheeseburger definitely ranks among the top of the list. There’s something so satisfying about biting into a juicy, perfectly cooked burger on a toasted bun.
Even plain, a burger is delicious. But with a bun in hand, everybody can be a Picasso and ‘paint the canvas’ with the perfect combination of toppings. For most, that includes cheese, cheese and more cheese, please!
The patty melt is deceptively simple. Aside from the seasonings and butter, there are only about four ingredients: meat, onion, cheese and bread. It’s the preparation and how these ingredients are combined that give the patty melt its sizzle.
Sometimes a patty melt will be served with only sautéed onions and sometimes with a “secret sauce” – which is usually Thousand Island dressing. That tangy, creamy flavor is a great pairing with the sautéed onions.
For my Ranch Patty Melt recipe, I’m substituting the Thousand Island dressing with Kraft Classic Ranch dressing as a topping and with extra on the side for dipping.
During a trip to my local Walmart, I picked up all of the ingredients – including Kraft Natural Swiss Cheese (the BIG slices!) and Kraft Classic Ranch Dressing. I prefer ground turkey for my burgers, but you could also easily use lean hamburger.
Ranch Patty Melt
After getting my ingredients in place, I mixed together the ground turkey, salt, pepper and Worcestershire sauce. Don’t skimp on the Worcestershire!
Form four oval patties with the meat, matching the relative shape of the crusty rye bread. Set the patties aside as we prepare the onions.
Slice up a yellow onion and sauté it in a skillet with butter over medium-low heat. It takes about 25 minutes to properly brown the onions, but be patient. If you rush the process, the onions could easily burn.
Can you see the buttery steam rising from the pan in the photo below? It smells sooooo goooood.
Next up, cook the patties in a skillet over medium heat until done in the middle and browned on the outside. When the patties are cooked, you’re ready to start the final assembly.
In another skillet, melt 2 tablespoons butter over medium heat. You’re going to assemble each Ranch Patty Melt as follows:
slice of crusty rye bread
slice of Kraft Swiss cheese
turkey burger patty
one-fourth of the sautéed onions
two tablespoons Kraft Classic Ranch dressing
another slice of Kraft Swiss cheese
another slice of crusty rye bread
Grill the sandwiches in the skillet until golden brown on one side. Add the remaining butter to the skillet and flip the Ranch Patty Melt sandwiches over. Cook until golden brown and crisp.
The cheese should be all melted and gooey. Cut in half and serve immediately.
Doesn’t this look like absolute burger perfection? After you bite into it, you’ll think you went to burger heaven. How can it get any better?
When you serve it with your favorite chips or fries and – most importantly – a side of Kraft Classic Ranch dressing for dipping!
With the summer grilling season in full swing, you’ve got to try creating your own version of a cheeseburger classic.
How do you #SayCheeseburger? What are your favorite toppings for crafting the ultimate classic cheeseburger?
Organize your ingredients and cooking instruments. You'll need a medium bowl and three skillets (one small, one medium and one large) to prepare the onions, burgers and the completed patty melts.
In a medium bowl, mix together ground turkey, Worcestershire sauce, salt and pepper. Form into 4 oval-shaped patties, similar to the size of the rye bread slices. Put patties on a plate; set aside.
In a small skillet, melt 2 tablespoons butter over medium-low heat. Toss in the onions and cook for 25 to 30 minutes. Stir occasionally. Onions are done when they are golden brown and soft. Remove from heat and set aside.
In a large skillet, melt 2 tablespoons butter over medium heat. Cook the turkey burger patties on both sides, until done in the middle and browned on the outside. Set aside.
In the medium skillet, melt 2 tablespoons butter over medium heat. Assemble the patty melts first with a slice of rye bread topped with a slice of Swiss cheese. Add the turkey burger patty and one-fourth of the cooked onions. Cover the patty with 2 tablespoons ranch dressing followed by another slice of Swiss cheese. Top with another slice of rye bread, and grill the sandwiches until golden brown.
Repeat until all 4 sandwiches are in the skillet. When browned on one side, add the remaining 2 tablespoons butter in the skillet. Carefully flip each sandwich over, and cook until golden brown, crisp and cheese has melted.
Cut in half and serve immediately. Serve with additional ranch dressing on the side for dipping.
For Cinco de Mayo,I decided to try a south-of-the-board-inspired dish quite popular throughout the Southwest. I used to live in Houston and Tex-Mex “anything” was always a popular item on every restaurant’s menu. So I wanted to take some of my favorite ingredients (brown rice and ground turkey) and create a healthier version of a Tex-Mex Rice Bowl.
Tex-Mex Rice Bowl
First, I made a salsa fresca, which is also known as pico de gallo, with fresh tomatoes, onion, garlic, sweet peppers, olive oil, lime juice and cilantro. I got all of my ingredients for salsa fresca in place (mise en place) and I was off-and-running.
This portion of the Tex-Mex Rice Bowl recipe, the prep for the salsa fresca, takes about 15 minutes of cutting and dicing. After that, the recipe goes quite fast.
I tend to prefer mildly spicy foods, so I’m using sweet peppers in this recipe. But if you like something with more fire, definitely swap out the sweet peppers for jalapeno peppers. Combine all of the salsa fresca ingredients in a large glass or ceramic bowl.
Then set aside to let it marinate while you prepare the ground turkey and rice mixtures. Gather all of your ingredients and measure out the spices to make cooking a breeze:
First you’ll cook the instant brown rice, following the package directions. Set aside.
In a large stock pot, heat the ground turkey over medium-high heat. Cook until done and stir to crumble. Stir in the water, chili powder, paprika, cumin, onion powder, garlic powder and cayenne pepper. Bring this to a simmer, then stir in the corn and black beans. Cook for about 2 minutes, then stir in the brown rice and cook for another 2 minutes.
Ladle the rice mixture into individual serving bowls. Top each bowl with salsa fresca and sprinkle with cilantro. I’ve found that when I have a large group or if your family has different levels of spice, heat they like that it’s best to let each individual add as much (or little) of the salsa fresca as they like to personalize their own Tex-Mex Rice Bowls. That way everybody gets what they want.
This Tex-Mex Rice Bowl recipe makes a large batch; enough for 8 to 10 people. If you have leftovers, freeze the turkey-rice mixture for up to 2 months in an airtight container. For any leftover salsa fresca, that will keep for only a few days in the refrigerator in an airtight container. Use leftover salsa alone or add to melted Cheddar cheese as a dip.
This dish has many variations in texture, from the rice and beans to the corn and salsa fresca. Personally, I like to add a small dollop of creamy, cool sour cream on the top of a hot Tex-Mex rice bowl to help cleanse the palate from the spice.
Ingredients
For salsa fresca:
4 medium plum or vine-ripened tomatoes, diced
1 medium white onion, diced
1 clove garlic, minced
2 sweet peppers, seeded (with ribs removed) and diced (substitute with jalapeno peppers, if desired)
1 tablespoon olive oil
fresh-squeezed juice of 1 lime
2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
For Tex-Mex bowl:
1 pound lean ground turkey
16 ounces instant brown rice (about 4 cups, dry)
1/2 cup water
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 tablespoon sea salt
1 tablespoon ground black pepper
2 teaspoons paprika
2 teaspoons cumin
1 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 cups whole kernel corn
30 ounces black beans, rinsed and drained
4 teaspoons fresh cilantro, chopped
Instructions
Instructions for salsa fresca:
In a large glass or ceramic bowl, combine all ingredients and set aside to let it marinate.
Instructions for Tex-Mex rice bowl:
Cook instant brown rice according to the package directions; set aside.
Heat a large stockpot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the ground turkey. Cook until done, stirring to crumble. Stir in water, chili powder, paprika, cumin, onion powder, garlic powder and cayenne pepper. Bring to a simmer.
Stir in corn and beans. Cook for 2 minutes. Stir in rice and cook for 2 minutes.
Scoop rice mixture into individual serving bowls. Top each bowl with salsa fresca and cilantro.
Notes
I would rate the level of spiciness for this recipe at medium. If you prefer a milder spice level, reduce the amount of chili powder and cumin. If you like a very spicy dish, substitute jalapeno peppers for the sweet peppers.
The majority of prep time for this dish is for the salsa fresca. You could also make the salsa fresca in advance and keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 48 hours.
I call this recipe YOLO (You Only Live Once) BOLO because the Bolognese sauce is so rich, intense with Cabernet Sauvignon flavor that it’s the only Bolognese recipe you’ll need for the rest of your life! Yep, that’s right! Seriously.
It’s made in a slow cooker, so it is so easy to make. You could literally turn it on when you leave for work and when you return home you’ll have perfectly cooked Bolognese spaghetti sauce.
This recipe is a modern take on a classic Bolognese sauce; I’m using lean ground turkey and I left out the chopped celery. Trust me, you won’t miss it. In my opinion, celery is the most overrated vegetable. And it only takes up “valuable space” in the slow cooker that is better served by more Cabernet Sauvignon.
After browning the ground turkey, put all of the ingredients into the slow cooker. Turn it on HIGH and let it cook for about 4 hours. You can use any pasta, but I like to use thin, whole grain spaghetti. And, of course, top it with some quality grated Pecorino Romano cheese.
If you have any leftovers, freeze the Bolognese spaghetti sauce in an airtight container for up to 4 months.
1 cup cabernet sauvignon (or any dry white or red wine)
2 teaspoons dried oregano
2 teaspoons dried thyme
2 bay leaves
2 teaspoons sea salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1.5 pounds thin whole wheat spaghetti
grated Pecorino Romano, for garnish
Instructions
Brown the ground turkey in a large skillet.
In a 6-quart slow cooker, mix together the cooked ground turkey, tomatoes, carrots, onion, garlic, tomato paste, wine, oregano, thyme, bay leaves, salt and pepper.
Cover and cook on HIGH for 4 to 5 hours, or until the vegetables are tender. You may also cook on LOW for 7 to 8 hours. Remove bay leaves before serving.
About 15 minutes before serving, cook the spaghetti according to package directions. Plate the spaghetti, top with Bolognese and sprinkle with grated cheese.
The cheeseburger is as American as food gets. It’s truly iconic. But when you ask a group of people to visualize what’s on (or in) their favorite cheeseburgers, there are no two descriptions exactly the same. That versatility is one of the exciting things about the cheeseburger – and why I like to experiment with new variations of ingredients in a never-ending quest for the perfect cheeseburger. A recent cheeseburger experiment that has come the closest to burger nirvana is my Ranch Patty Melt.
The patty melt itself is deceptively simple. Aside from the seasonings and butter, there are only four primary ingredients: meat, onion, cheese and bread. It’s the preparation and how these ingredients are combined that give the patty melt its sizzle.
The patty melt will usually be served with onions and Thousand Island dressing. That tangy, creamy flavor of the Thousand Island dressing is a great pairing with the sautéed onions. But for my Ranch Patty Melt recipe, I’m substituting the Thousand Island dressing with a classic ranch dressing as a topping and with extra on the side for dipping.
Ranch Patty Melt
With all of your ingredients en place, mix together the ground turkey, salt, pepper and Worcestershire sauce. Don’t skimp on the Worcestershire! Form four oval patties with the meat, matching the relative shape of the crusty rye bread. Set the patties aside as you prepare the onions.
Slice up a yellow onion and sautée it in a skillet with butter over medium-low heat. It takes about 25 minutes to properly brown the onions, but be patient. Don’t rush the process; the onions could easily burn. Can you see the buttery steam rising from the pan in the photo below? It smells so, so, so, so good.
Cook the patties in a skillet over medium heat until done in the middle and browned on the outside. When the patties are cooked, you’re ready to start the final assembly. In another skillet, melt 2 tablespoons butter over medium heat.
You’re going to assemble each Ranch Patty Melt as follows:
slice of crusty rye bread
slice of Swiss cheese
turkey burger patty
one-fourth of the sautéed onions
two tablespoons ranch dressing
another slice of Swiss cheese
another slice of crusty rye bread
Grill the sandwiches in the skillet until golden brown on one side. Add the remaining butter to the skillet and flip the Ranch Patty Melt sandwiches over. Cook until golden brown and crisp. The cheese should be all melted and gooey. Cut in half and serve immediately.
Doesn’t this look like absolute cheeseburger perfection? How can it get any better? That’s my challenge for my next cheeseburger adventure…
Organize your ingredients and cooking instruments. You'll need a medium bowl and three skillets (one small, one medium and one large) to prepare the onions, burgers and the completed patty melts.
In a medium bowl, mix together ground turkey, Worcestershire sauce, salt and pepper. Form into 4 oval-shaped patties, similar to the size of the rye bread slices. Put patties on a plate; set aside.
In a small skillet, melt 2 tablespoons butter over medium-low heat. Toss in the onions and cook for 25 to 30 minutes. Stir occasionally. Onions are done when they are golden brown and soft. Remove from heat and set aside.
In a large skillet, melt 2 tablespoons butter over medium heat. Cook the turkey burger patties on both sides, until done in the middle and browned on the outside. Set aside.
In the medium skillet, melt 2 tablespoons butter over medium heat. Assemble the patty melts first with a slice of rye bread topped with a slice of Swiss cheese. Add the turkey burger patty and one-fourth of the cooked onions. Cover the patty with 2 tablespoons ranch dressing followed by another slice of Swiss cheese. Top with another slice of rye bread, and grill the sandwiches until golden brown.
Repeat until all 4 sandwiches are in the skillet. When browned on one side, add the remaining 2 tablespoons butter in the skillet. Carefully flip each sandwich over, and cook until golden brown, crisp and cheese has melted.
Cut in half and serve immediately. Serve with additional ranch dressing on the side for dipping.
The cheeseburger is as American as food gets. It’s truly iconic. But when you ask a group of people to visualize what’s on (or in) their favorite cheeseburgers, there are no two descriptions exactly the same. That versatility is one of the exciting things about the cheeseburger – and why I like to experiment with new variations of ingredients in a never-ending quest for the perfect cheeseburger. A recent cheeseburger experiment that has come the closest to burger nirvana is my Ranch Patty Melt.
The patty melt itself is deceptively simple. Aside from the seasonings and butter, there are only four primary ingredients: meat, onion, cheese and bread. It’s the preparation and how these ingredients are combined that give the patty melt its sizzle.
The patty melt will usually be served with onions and Thousand Island dressing. That tangy, creamy flavor of the Thousand Island dressing is a great pairing with the sautéed onions. But for my Ranch Patty Melt recipe, I’m substituting the Thousand Island dressing with a classic ranch dressing as a topping and with extra on the side for dipping.
Ranch Patty Melt
With all of your ingredients en place, mix together the ground turkey, salt, pepper and Worcestershire sauce. Don’t skimp on the Worcestershire! Form four oval patties with the meat, matching the relative shape of the crusty rye bread. Set the patties aside as you prepare the onions.
Slice up a yellow onion and sautée it in a skillet with butter over medium-low heat. It takes about 25 minutes to properly brown the onions, but be patient. Don’t rush the process; the onions could easily burn. Can you see the buttery steam rising from the pan in the photo below? It smells so, so, so, so good.
Cook the patties in a skillet over medium heat until done in the middle and browned on the outside. When the patties are cooked, you’re ready to start the final assembly. In another skillet, melt 2 tablespoons butter over medium heat.
You’re going to assemble each Ranch Patty Melt as follows:
slice of crusty rye bread
slice of Swiss cheese
turkey burger patty
one-fourth of the sautéed onions
two tablespoons ranch dressing
another slice of Swiss cheese
another slice of crusty rye bread
Grill the sandwiches in the skillet until golden brown on one side. Add the remaining butter to the skillet and flip the Ranch Patty Melt sandwiches over. Cook until golden brown and crisp. The cheese should be all melted and gooey. Cut in half and serve immediately.
Doesn’t this look like absolute cheeseburger perfection? How can it get any better? That’s my challenge for my next cheeseburger adventure…
Organize your ingredients and cooking instruments. You'll need a medium bowl and three skillets (one small, one medium and one large) to prepare the onions, burgers and the completed patty melts.
In a medium bowl, mix together ground turkey, Worcestershire sauce, salt and pepper. Form into 4 oval-shaped patties, similar to the size of the rye bread slices. Put patties on a plate; set aside.
In a small skillet, melt 2 tablespoons butter over medium-low heat. Toss in the onions and cook for 25 to 30 minutes. Stir occasionally. Onions are done when they are golden brown and soft. Remove from heat and set aside.
In a large skillet, melt 2 tablespoons butter over medium heat. Cook the turkey burger patties on both sides, until done in the middle and browned on the outside. Set aside.
In the medium skillet, melt 2 tablespoons butter over medium heat. Assemble the patty melts first with a slice of rye bread topped with a slice of Swiss cheese. Add the turkey burger patty and one-fourth of the cooked onions. Cover the patty with 2 tablespoons ranch dressing followed by another slice of Swiss cheese. Top with another slice of rye bread, and grill the sandwiches until golden brown.
Repeat until all 4 sandwiches are in the skillet. When browned on one side, add the remaining 2 tablespoons butter in the skillet. Carefully flip each sandwich over, and cook until golden brown, crisp and cheese has melted.
Cut in half and serve immediately. Serve with additional ranch dressing on the side for dipping.
When you think about classic American foods, the cheeseburger definitely ranks among the top of the list. There’s something so satisfying about biting into a juicy, perfectly cooked burger on a toasted bun.
Even plain, a burger is delicious. But with a bun in hand, everybody can be a Picasso and ‘paint the canvas’ with the perfect combination of toppings. For most, that includes cheese, cheese and more cheese, please!
On this #shop for #CollectiveBias, I was faced with the challenge of creating a new, unique spin on a classic cheeseburger. A challenge I was ready to take on at full speed.
What came to mind immediately was the patty melt, which is a cross between a grilled cheese sandwich and a burger. But the patty melt is so uniquely its own that it almost defies classification.
The patty melt is deceptively simple. Aside from the seasonings and butter, there are only about four ingredients: meat, onion, cheese and bread. It’s the preparation and how these ingredients are combined that give the patty melt its sizzle.
Sometimes a patty melt will be served with only sautéed onions and sometimes with a “secret sauce” – which is usually Thousand Island dressing. That tangy, creamy flavor is a great pairing with the sautéed onions.
For my Ranch Patty Melt recipe, I’m substituting the Thousand Island dressing with Kraft Classic Ranch dressing as a topping and with extra on the side for dipping.
During a trip to my local Walmart, I picked up all of the ingredients – including Kraft Natural Swiss Cheese (the BIG slices!) and Kraft Classic Ranch Dressing. I prefer ground turkey for my burgers, but you could also easily use lean hamburger.
Ranch Patty Melt
After getting my ingredients in place, I mixed together the ground turkey, salt, pepper and Worcestershire sauce. Don’t skimp on the Worcestershire!
Form four oval patties with the meat, matching the relative shape of the crusty rye bread. Set the patties aside as we prepare the onions.
Slice up a yellow onion and sauté it in a skillet with butter over medium-low heat. It takes about 25 minutes to properly brown the onions, but be patient. If you rush the process, the onions could easily burn.
Can you see the buttery steam rising from the pan in the photo below? It smells sooooo goooood.
Next up, cook the patties in a skillet over medium heat until done in the middle and browned on the outside. When the patties are cooked, you’re ready to start the final assembly.
In another skillet, melt 2 tablespoons butter over medium heat. You’re going to assemble each Ranch Patty Melt as follows:
slice of crusty rye bread
slice of Kraft Swiss cheese
turkey burger patty
one-fourth of the sautéed onions
two tablespoons Kraft Classic Ranch dressing
another slice of Kraft Swiss cheese
another slice of crusty rye bread
Grill the sandwiches in the skillet until golden brown on one side. Add the remaining butter to the skillet and flip the Ranch Patty Melt sandwiches over. Cook until golden brown and crisp.
The cheese should be all melted and gooey. Cut in half and serve immediately.
Doesn’t this look like absolute burger perfection? After you bite into it, you’ll think you went to burger heaven. How can it get any better?
When you serve it with your favorite chips or fries and – most importantly – a side of Kraft Classic Ranch dressing for dipping!
With the summer grilling season in full swing, you’ve got to try creating your own version of a cheeseburger classic.
How do you #SayCheeseburger? What are your favorite toppings for crafting the ultimate classic cheeseburger?
Organize your ingredients and cooking instruments. You'll need a medium bowl and three skillets (one small, one medium and one large) to prepare the onions, burgers and the completed patty melts.
In a medium bowl, mix together ground turkey, Worcestershire sauce, salt and pepper. Form into 4 oval-shaped patties, similar to the size of the rye bread slices. Put patties on a plate; set aside.
In a small skillet, melt 2 tablespoons butter over medium-low heat. Toss in the onions and cook for 25 to 30 minutes. Stir occasionally. Onions are done when they are golden brown and soft. Remove from heat and set aside.
In a large skillet, melt 2 tablespoons butter over medium heat. Cook the turkey burger patties on both sides, until done in the middle and browned on the outside. Set aside.
In the medium skillet, melt 2 tablespoons butter over medium heat. Assemble the patty melts first with a slice of rye bread topped with a slice of Swiss cheese. Add the turkey burger patty and one-fourth of the cooked onions. Cover the patty with 2 tablespoons ranch dressing followed by another slice of Swiss cheese. Top with another slice of rye bread, and grill the sandwiches until golden brown.
Repeat until all 4 sandwiches are in the skillet. When browned on one side, add the remaining 2 tablespoons butter in the skillet. Carefully flip each sandwich over, and cook until golden brown, crisp and cheese has melted.
Cut in half and serve immediately. Serve with additional ranch dressing on the side for dipping.
I must admit for most of my adult life I’ve never made spaghetti sauce from scratch. With so many good pre-made sauces on the market, I usually stock up when there’s a sale and (occasionally) doctor it up with some fresh herbs or tomatoes. Can I get an “amen?” Browsing through one of my favorite slow cooker cookbooks – Better Homes and Gardens Year-Round Slow Cooker Recipes – I found a recipe for arrabbiata sauce. I was intrigued because I’d never heard of arrabbiata sauce. After a little research, I discovered that “arrabbiata” is Italian for “angry.” The sauce gets its name from the burn of the crushed red peppers. Most everything about this recipe sounded great, but of course I had to add my own twists to make it more of something I’d want to eat. So I exchanged pancetta for bacon and I added a cup of Cabernet Sauvignon wine to the recipe. I thought if the sauce was going to be “angry,” then being a little “boozy” couldn’t hurt!
Arrabbiata Sauce with Turkey Meatballs
The arrabbiata sauce is extremely easy to make. Your slow cooker does most of the heavy lifting. To start the recipe, I browned the onion, bacon and garlic in a skillet – then transferred the contents to my slow cooker. You add all the rest of the ingredients (except for the pasta and meatballs – those come later!) into your slow cooker and give it a good stir. Set it on HIGH and put on the lid. Walk away for 4 to 5 hours and the sauce will be “perfetto!” About 45 minutes before your arrabbiata sauce is done, you’ll want to start making the turkey meatballs. I used pre-seasoned panko breadcrumbs with Italian seasoning spices, but you can use standard panko breadcrumbs and add in the Italian seasoning by hand. The mixture of the panko, butter and egg help bind the ingredients, and make for a great carmelized “crust” on the outside of the meatballs. I tend to like larger meatballs, so that requires even cooking. The trick is not to rush the browning process, so never go higher than medium-high heat. I don’t make homemade meatballs that often. Usually, I’ll just brown ground turkey into my sauce and make whatever sauce I’m using a meat sauce. But these turkey meatballs were to die for! Well worth the effort. You may want to make a double batch; they freeze well. Cook your pasta according to package directions. I used rotini pasta, but you can easily substitute your favorite pasta or what you have in your pantry. If you’re only having pasta for a meal, I like to use a bowl. It makes it easier to cover the pasta with sauce, without wasting a lot covering the entire length of a plate. Then pile on the meatballs and pour a healthy serving of arrabbiata sauce over it all. Top it with shredded Parmesan cheese and you’ve got a great weekday dinner or weekend lunch that’s good enough for company. I ended up adding Cabernet Sauvignon to this arrabbiata sauce recipe to make it “less angry.” What’s your favorite ingredient to add to spaghetti sauce?
56 ounces diced tomatoes with basil, garlic and oregano, undrained
15 ounces tomato sauce
2 teaspoons dried parsley
1 teaspoon dried oregano, crushed
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 teaspoon dried basil, crushed
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
1 cup Cabernet Sauvignon, or any dry red wine
8 servings cooked rotini pasta
1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
For Meatballs:
1 cup panko breadcrumbs
20 ounces ground turkey, 93% lean
1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
1 tablespoon dried parsley
2 medium onions, minced
2 eggs
1 tablespoon butter, room temperature
1 teaspoon sea salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
For Sauce:
In a skillet, cook the onion, bacon and garlic over medium heat until onion is tender and bacon is browned.
Transfer mixture to a 5-quart slow cooker. Set skillet aside to use when cooking meatballs later.
Stir in the tomatoes, tomato sauce, parsley, oregano, basil, salt, and crushed red pepper. Cover and cook on HIGH for 4 hours (or on LOW for 8 to 10 hours).
Serve over pasta and turkey meatballs. Sprinkle each serving with Parmesan cheese, if desired.
For Meatballs:
In a large bowl, thoroughly combine ground turkey, breadcrumbs, Italian seasoning, dried parsley, mined onions, eggs, butter, salt and pepper.
By hand, form golf ball-sized meatballs and place in cooled skillet (used when browning onion and bacon mixture earlier). Makes about 16 meatballs, or 2 per serving. Feel free to make your meatballs smaller or larger, based on your preference. But make all meatballs uniform in size so they cook evenly.
Place skillet with meatballs on burner at medium-high heat. Every 5 minutes or so, turn meatballs so that all sides will eventually brown and meatballs will be evenly cooked. Watch carefully and remove meatballs from skillet when done. Set aside to serve with arrabbiata sauce and pasta.
Notes
Sauce portion of this recipe lightly adapted from Better Homes & Gardens "Year-Round Slow Cooker Recipes"
Everybunny needs a little extra help and a fresh take in the kitchen when it comes to getting ready for family holiday gatherings, like Easter.
Honestly, I get bored with “traditional Easter” menus. I don’t love ham and I prefer my eggs scrambled or omeletted (yes, that’s a word in my world). Many of the traditional Easter foods I grew up with I just don’t care for as an adult. But that’s not to say that I don’t like to cook with many of the ingredients found in these dishes. I’m simply challenged to find a way to incorporate those ingredients in ways that will excite my palate – and those of the 23 members of my immediate family when we get together for an Easter brunch. [Yes, when the ENTIRE family gets together we have that many in the immediate family, not counting pets!]
So I accepted a challenge to use three varieties of KRAFT #FreshTake Cheese & Breadcrumb mixes to create side dishes for Easter brunch on this #shop for #Collective Bias. But I knew I had to get some help from some bunnies (actually, they’re apricot-fawn pugs) named Baxter and Bing. They are rescues and the MOST FOOD OBSESSED DOGS my vet and dog trainer have ever seen! That’s probably why the universe put us together. Their help in deciding on what to make for an Easter brunch menu is (almost) always invaluable.
Now Baxter and Bing don’t actually help prep any food (I thought I should call that out, as I’ve been told I’m somewhat obsessive when it comes to my dogs). But Bing (the father) and Baxter (the son) may occasionally taste test an ingredient as I cook.
Bing and Baxter aren’t very vocal, unlike their constantly-barking-at-the-wind black pug sisters, Della and Marlo. [Della and Marlo aren’t yet 2 years old, so they’re too young to help out much in the kitchen for now.] But Bing and Baxter can communicate “the world” with a single look, so I pay close attention to their eyes when we “collaborate” on what to make. We “conferred” and decided on using three varieties of KRAFT Fresh Take Cheese & Breadcrumb mixes for our Easter brunch menu:
#FreshTake Italian Parmesan Hasselback Potatoes [Sweden’s version of baked potatoes]
#FreshTake Southwest Three Cheese Stuffed Peppers [hearty enough to be a satisfying entrée on its own]
#FreshTake Cheddar Jack with Bacon Deviled Egg Cups [a modern take on a traditional app]
So it was off to my local Walmart to get the ingredients. You’ll find KRAFT Fresh Take in the refrigerated cheese aisle.
For a limited time, you can save $1.00 on the purchase of any KRAFT Fresh Take Cheese & Breadcrumb Mix and fresh chicken at Walmart. Get your $1.00 coupon here.
Hasselback Potatoes
If you’ve read Baked Chicago before, you may know that I’ve never met a potato I didn’t like. And while I love a good baked potato, it can be kinda boring to serve for a special occasion. But not Hasselback Potatoes, which are Sweden’s version of baked potatoes. They were made popular by the restaurant inside the Hasselbacken Hotel in Stockholm that created the dish.
By using a simple cutting technique (which also helps the potatoes to cook faster) and adding some simple ingredients inside or atop the potatoes while they bake, you have a simply elegant – and unbelievably delicious – potato dish that everyone is going to gobble down at the Easter table. [I guess that’s a better description for the Thanksgiving table, but you know what I mean.]
This dish would also be something that you could cook to impress someone, like a first date, because they look like they would be difficult to make. But they’re not. It’s all in the presentation, and (from where I sit) there’s no need to let them know just how easy it was!
During the cooking process, the potato start to fan out – making for a beautiful presentation on the plate.
Hasselback Potatoes with KRAFT Fresh Take Cheese & Breadcrumb Mix
Rating: 51
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Yield: 6 servings
Ingredients
18 small Yukon Gold potatoes (about 3 pounds), peeled
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
1 package KRAFT Fresh Take Cheese & Breadcrumb Mix, Italian Parmesan Recipe
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
sea salt and ground black pepper, for seasoning
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 400 F degrees. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
Place peeled potatoes on a cutting board. Cut a narrow slice from the bottom of each potato to help the potato lie flat; discard the slice.
Place one wooden chopstick (2 total) on each side of the potato, lengthwise. Use a knife to slice each potato crosswise making slices about 1/4-inch apart for the length of the potato. The chopsticks will prevent the knife from cutting through the bottom of the potato. You want to leave about 1/4-inch on the bottom of the potato intact.
After cutting the potatoes, gently rinse them to rid excess starch which can impede fanning. Carefully flex the potatoes while rinsing under cold running water. Dry the potatoes well before baking.
Place the contents of the entire KRAFT Fresh Take Italian Parmesan package in a food processor, along with olive oil. Pulse until well blended.
Brush the potatoes with melted butter. Season lightly with salt and pepper. Pat the prepared KRAFT Fresh Take cheese & breadcrumb mixture on top of each potato.
Place potatoes onto the prepared baking sheet. Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 20 to 25 minutes. Remove the aluminum foil and bake for an additional 5 to 10 minutes, or until they turn crispy and are fork-tender.
Notes
Hasselback potatoes are also known as the Swedish version of baked potatoes, popularized by the restaurant at the Hasselbacken Hotel in Stockholm, Sweden. As the potatoes bake, the slices fan out slightly - making for an elegant presentation.
The next dish I made was a slow cooker version of stuffed peppers. Many cooks use green bell peppers, but I personally think the vibrant colors of the orange, yellow and red bell peppers are much more visually appealing. As a kid, I hated most green vegetables. While my palate grew up, my eyes still find the same green of most vegetables to be quite dull.
Go veggie! You can also turn this into a vegetarian dish by simply eliminating the ground turkey.
What I love best about this recipe is that it’s another slow cooker home run. I have [undiagnosed] adult ADD. So anytime I can put something into the slow cooker and forget it for a few hours, I am so HOPPY…I mean HAPPY!
Ingredients
6 large bell peppers, tops removed and seeded
1 pound ground turkey, browned and crumbled
10 ounces frozen kernel corn
15 ounces black beans, drained and rinsed
14.5 ounces diced tomatoes
1/4 cup chunky salsa
1/4 cup chopped onions
1 cup brown rice, cooked
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
1 package KRAFT Fresh Take Southwest Three Cheese & Breadcrumbs
Directions
In a skillet, cook the ground turkey until browned. Crumble it as you stir. Set aside. Cook the brown rice according to package directions. Set aside. Cut off the tops of each pepper, then core and remove seeds, membranes. Rinse out with cold water. If needed, slice off any uneven portion of the bottoms of each pepper in order for them to lie flat. Set aside.
In a large bowl, combine the ground turkey, corn, black beans, diced tomatoes, salsa, onions, brown rice and Worcestershire sauce until blended. Stuff peppers with mixture and top with KRAFT Fresh Take cheese & breadcrumbs. Stand peppers in a slow cooker. Add 1/2 cup water in the bottom and cover. Cook on low for 6 hours (or on HIGH for 3 hours), or until peppers are tender. Makes 6 servings.
Deviled Egg Cups
The final recipe for my Easter brunch is a twist on deviled eggs. I have always liked the taste of deviled eggs, but I’m not a fan of the rubbery texture that hard-boiled egg whites can sometimes have. Deviled egg cups use phyllo dough for the vessel, so it adds a nice crunchy texture that I find irresistible.
And the filling couldn’t be easier. You essentially puree the hard-boiled eggs (yolks and whites!) and mix in the rest of the ingredients. Then pipe the filling into the phyllo shells and you’ve got a somewhat fancy appetizer that is great for a large gathering.
But don’t forget to garnish with thick-cut bacon. That’s Bing and Baxter’s tip, because they love anything topped with bacon. And I concur.
Ingredients
30 (2 boxes) frozen mini phyllo shells
6 hard-boiled large eggs, peeled
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 package KRAFT Fresh Take Cheddar Jack with Bacon Cheese & Breadcrumbs
5 slices thick-cut bacon, crispy and chopped, for garnish
Directions
Preheat your oven to 350 F degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place the phyllo shells on baking sheet and bake for 5 minutes. Let cool.
In food processor, puree eggs, mayonnaise, lemon juice, pepper, salt and contents of Fresh Take Cheddar Jack with Bacon. Put egg mixture in a resealable plastic bag, cut off tip and pipe into shells.
Garnish with chopped bacon and serve at room temperature. Makes 30 deviled egg cups.
Finally, Some Fun For The Kids
I hope you found some inspiration in these recipes as you prepare your Easter menu. Whether you’re cooking for yourself or for a super-humongous group, make it easy on the chef! Simple can also be delicious and a crowd-pleaser. What’s going to be on your Easter menu this year? Share your comments below.
Dig out the plastic eggs from the basement or attic and get ready for some marathon Easter egg hunts! [For those with kids under age 6, you know what I mean. I have 13 nieces and nephews, of which 8 are under 10 years old. So I’ve hosted my share of egg-citing – and unending – egg hunts. Just don’t forget where you put the eggs. Seriously. Don’t forget.]
Many of my nieces and nephews have iPads and hand-held electronic games, so anything as “manual” as an Easter egg hunt may see alien to them as they get into their teens. I remember as a younger kid that I loved to color with crayons and do word games/puzzles, so I wanted to share with you an Easter coloring page and maze puzzle (both are downloadable PDFs) that you can share.
Who knows? It might just buy you 10 minutes of uninterrupted time in the kitchen. And for that, you’ll thank me!
I call this recipe YOLO (You Only Live Once) BOLO because the Bolognese sauce is so rich, intense with Cabernet Sauvignon flavor that it’s the only Bolognese recipe you’ll need for the rest of your life! Yep, that’s right! Seriously.
It’s made in a slow cooker, so it is so easy to make. You could literally turn it on when you leave for work and when you return home you’ll have perfectly cooked Bolognese spaghetti sauce.
This recipe is a modern take on a classic Bolognese sauce; I’m using lean ground turkey and I left out the chopped celery. Trust me, you won’t miss it. In my opinion, celery is the most overrated vegetable. And it only takes up “valuable space” in the slow cooker that is better served by more Cabernet Sauvignon.
After browning the ground turkey, put all of the ingredients into the slow cooker. Turn it on HIGH and let it cook for about 4 hours. You can use any pasta, but I like to use thin, whole grain spaghetti. And, of course, top it with some quality grated Pecorino Romano cheese.
If you have any leftovers, freeze the Bolognese spaghetti sauce in an airtight container for up to 4 months.
SHAMELESS PLUG: This recipe for Bolognese Spaghetti Sauce is entered in Better Recipe’s Slow Cooker Blogger Recipe Contest. If you like this recipe, please vote for YOLO BOLO Bolognese Spaghetti Sauce. The top vote-getters from the general public will compete for the grand prize. Thanks for your consideration and support.
1 cup cabernet sauvignon (or any dry white or red wine)
2 teaspoons dried oregano
2 teaspoons dried thyme
2 bay leaves
2 teaspoons sea salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1.5 pounds thin whole wheat spaghetti
grated Pecorino Romano, for garnish
Instructions
Brown the ground turkey in a large skillet.
In a 6-quart slow cooker, mix together the cooked ground turkey, tomatoes, carrots, onion, garlic, tomato paste, wine, oregano, thyme, bay leaves, salt and pepper.
Cover and cook on HIGH for 4 to 5 hours, or until the vegetables are tender. You may also cook on LOW for 7 to 8 hours. Remove bay leaves before serving.
About 15 minutes before serving, cook the spaghetti according to package directions. Plate the spaghetti, top with Bolognese and sprinkle with grated cheese.
Last weekend was National Margarita Day. Did you miss it? I was all set to enjoy some great margarita recipes from some of Chicago’s hottest bars, like a Salted Caramel Margarita from The Underground. But all the margarita madness got me hungry for some Mexican-inspired cooking, which led to some serious salsa experimentation in the kitchen.
The best outcome was a Fiesta Mexi Turkey Meatloaf. In addition to brown rice, which I use instead of bread crumbs, I added crushed tortilla chips. Such. Crunchy. Goodness. And the salsa in the meatloaf, along with the salsa on the meatloaf, is a perfect pairing with a strong, ice cold margarita. Now that’s inspired Mexican cuisine!
Preheat your oven to 375 F degrees. Spray a standard loaf pan with nonstick spray; set aside.
In a large bowl, mix together ground turkey, brown rice, crushed tortilla chips, eggs, chili powder, and 1/4 cup salsa. Shape and put mixture into prepared loaf pan.Top with remaining salsa.
Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, or until done. Top with cheese and bake for 10 minutes more, or until melted.
With the recent shakeup in the Chicagoland grocery store landscape, I’m glad I can still count on #MyMarianos store in Jefferson Park. The store has ample parking, it’s clean and the aisles are wide, easy to navigate. The selection? It’s HUGE! Chicago has a reputation as a melting pot of global cultures, and I think Mariano’s does a good job of living up to that reputation by having such a wide variety of global cuisines and ethnic foods. It’s a bit like an Epcot for foodies. And their latest innovation is Mariano’s health key™ System, which simplifies the shopping experience and makes it easier to put healthier food in my cart.
With so many new food products coming on the market these days, and classic foods being recalibrated to make them healthier (e.g. gluten-free or no salt added), I’m reading food labels more than the newspaper on some days. And I read the paper everyday!
I used to be near-sighted, so reading labels wasn’t an issue. As I get older, so do my eyes — and now I have reading glasses in addition to glasses for distance and driving. But I’m always leaving my reading glasses next to my favorite chair, so I’m having to read food labels at arm’s length at the grocery store. But not with Mariano’s health key™ System, thankfully. The labels are bold, color-coded and have large text that make them easy to read.
Mariano’s health key™ System really does make grocery shopping easy. The tags are big, brightly lit and have large text, so I can easily find healthier food options – even when I forget my glasses!
If you’re like me, every now and then you need some new inspiration for dinner. I get Mariano’s weekly email newsletter that shares recipes and showcases local chefs, or I’ll go to the Community Page on their website to learn about in-store events and cooking demonstrations. For more information about Mariano’s health key™ System, visit the Mariano’s website or follow them on Facebook and Twitter.
On my excursion to Mariano’s this week, I decided to try a south-of-the-board-inspired dish quite popular throughout the Southwest. I used to live in Houston and Tex-Mex “anything” was always a popular item on every restaurant’s menu. So I wanted to take some of my favorite ingredients (brown rice and ground turkey) and create a healthier version of a Tex-Mex Rice Bowl.
Tex-Mex Rice Bowl
First, I made a salsa fresca, which is also known as pico de gallo, with fresh tomatoes, onion, garlic, sweet peppers, olive oil, lime juice and cilantro. I got all of my ingredients for salsa fresca in place (mise en place) and I was off-and-running.
This portion of the Tex-Mex Rice Bowl recipe, the prep for the salsa fresca, takes about 15 minutes of cutting and dicing. After that, the recipe goes quite fast.
I tend to prefer mildly spicy foods, so I’m using sweet peppers in this recipe. But if you like something with more fire, definitely swap out the sweet peppers for jalapeno peppers. Combine all of the salsa fresca ingredients in a large glass or ceramic bowl.
Then set aside to let it marinate while you prepare the ground turkey and rice mixtures. Gather all of your ingredients and measure out the spices to make cooking a breeze:
First you’ll cook the instant brown rice, following the package directions. Set aside.
In a large stock pot, heat the ground turkey over medium-high heat. Cook until done and stir to crumble. Stir in the water, chili powder, paprika, cumin, onion powder, garlic powder and cayenne pepper. Bring this to a simmer, then stir in the corn and black beans. Cook for about 2 minutes, then stir in the brown rice and cook for another 2 minutes.
Ladle the rice mixture into individual serving bowls. Top each bowl with salsa fresca and sprinkle with cilantro. I’ve found that when I have a large group or if your family has different levels of spice, heat they like that it’s best to let each individual add as much (or little) of the salsa fresca as they like to personalize their own Tex-Mex Rice Bowls. That way everybody gets what they want.
This Tex-Mex Rice Bowl recipe makes a large batch; enough for 8 to 10 people. If you have leftovers, freeze the turkey-rice mixture for up to 2 months in an airtight container. For any leftover salsa fresca, that will keep for only a few days in the refrigerator in an airtight container. Use leftover salsa alone or add to melted Cheddar cheese as a dip.
This dish has many variations in texture, from the rice and beans to the corn and salsa fresca. Personally, I like to add a small dollop of creamy, cool sour cream on the top of a hot Tex-Mex rice bowl to help cleanse the palate from the spice.
Ingredients
For salsa fresca:
4 medium plum or vine-ripened tomatoes, diced
1 medium white onion, diced
1 clove garlic, minced
2 sweet peppers, seeded (with ribs removed) and diced (substitute with jalapeno peppers, if desired)
1 tablespoon olive oil
fresh-squeezed juice of 1 lime
2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
For Tex-Mex bowl:
1 pound lean ground turkey
16 ounces instant brown rice (about 4 cups, dry)
1/2 cup water
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 tablespoon sea salt
1 tablespoon ground black pepper
2 teaspoons paprika
2 teaspoons cumin
1 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 cups whole kernel corn
30 ounces black beans, rinsed and drained
4 teaspoons fresh cilantro, chopped
Instructions
Instructions for salsa fresca:
In a large glass or ceramic bowl, combine all ingredients and set aside to let it marinate.
Instructions for Tex-Mex rice bowl:
Cook instant brown rice according to the package directions; set aside.
Heat a large stockpot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the ground turkey. Cook until done, stirring to crumble. Stir in water, chili powder, paprika, cumin, onion powder, garlic powder and cayenne pepper. Bring to a simmer.
Stir in corn and beans. Cook for 2 minutes. Stir in rice and cook for 2 minutes.
Scoop rice mixture into individual serving bowls. Top each bowl with salsa fresca and cilantro.
Notes
I would rate the level of spiciness for this recipe at medium. If you prefer a milder spice level, reduce the amount of chili powder and cumin. If you like a very spicy dish, substitute jalapeno peppers for the sweet peppers.
The majority of prep time for this dish is for the salsa fresca. You could also make the salsa fresca in advance and keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 48 hours.
I must admit for most of my adult life I’ve never made spaghetti sauce from scratch. With so many good pre-made sauces on the market, I usually stock up when there’s a sale and (occasionally) doctor it up with some fresh herbs or tomatoes. Can I get an “amen?” Browsing through one of my favorite slow cooker cookbooks – Better Homes and Gardens Year-Round Slow Cooker Recipes – I found a recipe for arrabbiata sauce. I was intrigued because I’d never heard of arrabbiata sauce. After a little research, I discovered that “arrabbiata” is Italian for “angry.” The sauce gets its name from the burn of the crushed red peppers. Most everything about this recipe sounded great, but of course I had to add my own twists to make it more of something I’d want to eat. So I exchanged pancetta for bacon and I added a cup of Cabernet Sauvignon wine to the recipe. I thought if the sauce was going to be “angry,” then being a little “boozy” couldn’t hurt!
The arrabbiata sauce is extremely easy to make. Your slow cooker does most of the heavy lifting. To start the recipe, I browned the onion, bacon and garlic in a skillet – then transferred the contents to my slow cooker. You add all the rest of the ingredients (except for the pasta and meatballs – those come later!) into your slow cooker and give it a good stir. Set it on HIGH and put on the lid. Walk away for 4 to 5 hours and the sauce will be “perfetto!” 
About 45 minutes before your arrabbiata sauce is done, you’ll want to start making the turkey meatballs. I used pre-seasoned panko breadcrumbs with Italian seasoning spices, but you can use standard panko breadcrumbs and add in the Italian seasoning by hand. The mixture of the panko, butter and egg help bind the ingredients, and make for a great carmelized “crust” on the outside of the meatballs. I tend to like larger meatballs, so that requires even cooking. The trick is not to rush the browning process, so never go higher than medium-high heat. I don’t make homemade meatballs that often. Usually, I’ll just brown ground turkey into my sauce and make whatever sauce I’m using a meat sauce. But these turkey meatballs were to die for! Well worth the effort. You may want to make a double batch; they freeze well. 
Cook your pasta according to package directions. I used rotini pasta, but you can easily substitute your favorite pasta or what you have in your pantry. If you’re only having pasta for a meal, I like to use a bowl. It makes it easier to cover the pasta with sauce, without wasting a lot covering the entire length of a plate. Then pile on the meatballs and pour a healthy serving of arrabbiata sauce over it all. Top it with shredded Parmesan cheese and you’ve got a great weekday dinner or weekend lunch that’s good enough for company. 
I ended up adding Cabernet Sauvignon to this arrabbiata sauce recipe to make it “less angry.” What’s your favorite ingredient to add to spaghetti sauce?
