What's in your bowl?

It's Super Bowl time. I love Super Bowl. But not because I'm so interested in clashes of titans. But because I love an excuse to get together with friends and eat lots of not so healthy food that I get to cook.

Most of the time I do focus on all the good things. This one day a year I succumb to a baser instinct and go big time for carbs, meaty stuff and things that comfort.

Here's my plan for Super Bowl 2012.....

Polpette

    Snack: Sausage bread and crispy fried lamb polpette with tomato jam-----

      Chili seasoned corn dip with vegetable crudites----

                     A big bowl of grapes---- 

Pretzel bites

Tomato soup and grilled cheese

  Homemade pretzel bites with honey mustard cream---

                     

Roasted tomato soup and grilled cheese---

                           Dinner:  Beef goulash, noodles, Auntie Florence's zucchini casserole
  Dessert: assorted puddings---minted chocolate, mango panna cotta,

                                                       caramel budino

                                                    

               Milk and cookie shots

Caramel budino

Milk and cookies

Here's the recipe for the polpette....(makes about 24)

Ingredients:

• 1# ground lamb (shoulder)
• 1/2# sweet Italian sausage (removed from its casing)
• 1/2 cup day old bread, crumbled (no crust)
• 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan
• 1 cup whole milk
• 2 large eggs
• 4 teaspoons unsalted butter
• 1 large clove garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 2 tablespoons flat leaf parsley, coarsely chopped
• 2 teaspoons Kosher salt
• freshly ground black pepper to taste
• unseasoned bread crumbs for dredging
• Canola or vegetable oil for frying 

Method:

• Soak the bread in the milk. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes
• Mix the meats together with a fork
• Add the soaked bread, grated Parmesan, 2 eggs, butter, garlic, chopped parsley, salt and black pepper.
• Mix well with a fork or use your very clean hands. Do not over work the meats.
• Form the mixture into meatballs about 1 1/2 inches round. 
• Dredge the meatballs in the breadcrumbs.
• Fry in a shallow pan over medium heat until nicely browned. About 5-7 minutes.
• Drain on paper towels before serving.

Serve hot or at room temperature.
.