As I was dragging out all the ingredients I remembered that my boyfriend had pulled a 2lb. package of Hot Venizon Sausage of the freezer and placed in the refrigerator yesterday. Then the light bulb went off in my head...why not make meatballs!!! I had never made them... I know... hard to believe! The reason...I had always used sliced Italian Sausage in my sauce, but I remembered my Grama Jones had always made meatballs so I decided it was time to make some myself.
Crockpot Spaghetti Sauce with Hot Venison Meatballs
For Sauce
1 Large Can of Whole Tomatoes
2 Large Cans of Crushed Tomatoes
2 Cans of Tomatoe Paste
1lb of Hamburger
4 Tablespoons Dried Oregano (or to taste)
3 Tablespoons Dried Basil (or to taste)
1.5 teaspoons Black Pepper
1 Heaping Tablespoon of Fresh Crushed Garlic
2 Medium Onions
1.5 Tablespoons Sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
For Meatballs
2lbs of Hot Venison Sausage (or just regular Venison Sausage)
1lb of Hamburger
1 cup of bread crumbs
1/2 cup Parmesan Cheese ( the Kraft Shaker Type)
1/2 cup fresh grated parmesan Cheese
2 Tablespoons finely chopped fresh onion.
1 Tablespoon of Chopped Garlic
2 Tablespoons of Italian Seasoning
1 Teaspoon Pepper
1/2 Teaspoon Salt
2 Tablespoons Worchestshire Sauce
1 Egg
2 Tablespoons of Olive Oil
Begin your sauce first. Open the can of whole tomatoes, using a paring knife cut the tomatoes up in to smaller bite size pieces and place in large crock pot. Now open both cans of crushed tomatoes and add them. Add Oregano, Basil, Garlic, Sugar, Salt & Pepper and stir.
Peel and quarter the onions and place in a food processor or chop finely and place all but 2 tablespoons of the onion in a medium size frying pan. You will set the extra two tablespoons of onion aside for your meatballs. Now add your hamburger to the pan and begin to cook. Make sure you break the hamburger up as you are cooking. Continue to cook till the hamburger is no longer pink, it is nice crumbled, and the onions are soft and translucent.
Drain the hamburger mixture and add to the sauce. Stir the sauce well. Plug the crockpot in and turn on high. You will cook the sauce on high for two hours with out removing the lid (this helps bring the crockpot up to the correct cooking temperature).
In the mean time begin working on the meatballs. You will mix the 1lb of Hamburger and the 2 lbs of Hot Venison Sausage together well with your hands. Wash and rinse your hands and dump the 2 tablespoons of fresh chopped onion, the chopped garlic, the italian seasoning, the parmesan cheeses, the pepper and salt, breadcrumbs, and the Worcheshire Sauce in to the meat mixture. Take the egg and beat well and add to the mixture. Now dig in... using your hands mix the meat very well. Make sure to get all the bread crumbs mixed in well, lift the meat out of the bowl and check the bottom of the bowl. Once everything is mixed well, form the meat in to 2-3 inch meatballs. Cover and place the meatballs on a metal cookie sheet and place them in the refrigerator for a half hour to hour to set up.
Once the sauce has cooked for two hours, lift the lid and stir well, it will be very watery, now is when you want to open both small cans of tomatoe paste and add it. Stir it well and place the lid back on and let it continue to cook.
Once the meatballs have been in the refrigerator for a half hour to hour, remove them and set aside. In a large non-stick frying pan add the olive oil and turn up to medium heat. Once the oil starts to crackle, lower the heat to medium low and place the meatballs in the pan. Slowly and very carefully turn them browning them on all sides. Once they are brown on all sides, remove and place on a plate with a paper towel to absorb the extra oil.
Now remove the lid from the crock pot and and carefully add the browned meatballs. Make sure they are covered with sauce, and replace the lid. Now let them simmer away on high for at least one hour.
In the mean time whip up your favorite toss salad and place it in th refrigerator.
After the hour has gone by, remove one meatball and slide a meat thermometer in it and check to make sure it is done. It should be the same temperature of Beef Well Done. If you get this reading, place the meatball back in the crockpot and cover it with sauce and drop the crock pot temperature down to low.
Now its time to put some water on to boil, place a pinch of salt in it, and once its boiling add 1lb of Angel Hair Pasta and cook 4-5minutes. While the pasta is cooking place some Italian Bread that has been buttered and sprinkled with Garlic Powder in the oven at 350 for five minutes.
Drain the pasta, rinse with hot water, and place in a bowl with a drizzle of olive oil to keep it from sticking. Remove the garlic bread from the oven, and the salad from the refrigerator. Now its time to serve up your meal. Dont forget to sprinkle a bit of fresh grated parmesan cheese on top!
This is a nice warm dinner on a cold day! Enjoy!
This is a nice warm dinner on a cold day! Enjoy!
