Dinner and a Movie: Lady and the Tramp
By Mindy McIntosh-Shetter
Dinner and a movie has become a family tradition that we all look forward to every summer.
There is nothing like spreading the sheet over the fence and projecting our movie or choice on the homemade screen.
We can relive or introduce the time of drive-ins without leaving the backyard.
But this year is different.
My children are bringing their “special” friends to share our family tradition. I look forward to the new recipes, new movies, and new memories that these “special” friends will bring to our movie night. But most of all I am looking forward to my kids’ calling from their own homes wanting to know when “Family Movie Night” is going to be and helping them pass on the tradition of “Family Movie Night” to their own children.
Below is what we have planned for our Lady and the Tramp movie night. But be creativity in your own movie night that is how memories are made.
Snacks: Carmel Corn, Gummy Worms, and Italian Ice
Drinks: Sparkling grape juice with dinner and Lemonade with Basil frozen Ice Cubes
Entree: Homemade Spaghetti and Meatballs with Garlic Bread and Mixed Breed Salad (mixed green salad)
Dessert: Spumoni
Recipe for homemade Spaghetti and Meatballs
Spaghetti Sauce
Ingredients
- 2 Cups water
- 2 lbs fresh tomatoes
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 medium onion minced and sautéed
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 2-tablespoon fresh basil
- 1-teaspoon fresh oregano
- Salt and pepper to taste
Directions
- Place water in a deep pan and bring to a boil. Place tomatoes in water and boil for 2 minutes. Remove tomatoes and place in ice water.
- Once cool peel skin off and run through sieve if you want to remove tomato seeds.
- Place tomatoes in a non-reactive pot until needed.
- In large skillet place 2 tablespoons olive oil and heat up. Once oil is warm place minced garlic and onion in skillet and cook until garlic is lightly browned and onion is tender.
- Then gently pour tomatoes into skillet and add herbs. Cook sauce until consistence is reached.
- Serve over pasta with meatballs.
Summertime Meatballs
Ingredients
- 2 lbs of ground meat in any combination such as veal, beef, bison, pork or lamb
- Bread crumbs store bought or homemade
- 5 cloves garlic minced
- Fresh basil, oregano, and thyme to taste
Directions
- Mince garlic and roughly chop herbs.
- Mix all ingredients together. Mixture should stick together but depending on the meat combination that is used more or less bread crumbs will be needed.
- Use a small ice cream scoop, melon baller, or hands to form meatballs.
- Place on pan lined with parchment paper or lightly spray with a cooking spray.
- Preheat oven to 350F degrees.
- Place pans in oven and bake 30 minutes for medium size meatballs but again depending on meat combination and size will dictate cooking time.
- Once done place in spaghetti sauce.
An alternative to this recipe is to cook the meatballs in a smoker with chips that go with the meat. This gives the meatballs a wonderful smoky flavor and keeps the heat out of the kitchen. But regardless of how the meatballs are fixed enjoy the homemade sauce with the homemade meatballs and top it with fresh mozzarella cheese. You will be singing OH SOLO MEO.
