Sunday was another cooking class.  This one was to show you a typical Italian Sunday midday meal.  The ribs were OK, but messy to eat.  The meatballs were tasteless, go to Costco and buy Italian meatballs, they are better.  Neither of us liked the sauce.  The cookies are divine.  

For the ribs: 

Ingredient:

Rack of pork ribs, baby back or spare ribs, approx.14 ribs

salt and pepper

Directions:

1. Cut between the bones of the rack to make individual spare ribs.  Place them on a baking sheet lined with foil.  
2. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
3. Season with salt and pepper.
4. Roast in the oven until browned, about 20 minutes.
5. Transfer to the sauce.

Sauce for the pasta

Ingredients:

2 T EVOO

1 small onion, diced

2 garlic cloves

1/4-1/2 C dry white wine

1 (28 oz) can crushed tomatoes

1 (15 oz) can crushed tomatoes

Directions:

1. Heat the oil in a very large saucepan.  (You will be adding the ribs and the meatballs to this sauce after you bake them.)
2. Sauté the onion for about 5 minutes until softened.  
3. Add the garlic and cook for another 12- minutes.  
4. Add the wine and let evaporate by half.  
5. Add the tomatoes and season with salt and pepper.
6. Simmer for about 10-15 minutes.
7. Add the ribs.  Cook for another 1/2-1 hour.

For the Meatballs:

Ingredients:

1# ground beef

1 egg

1/3 C grated Parmigiano

2 slices thin white sliced bread

1/3 C milk

3-4 parsley sprigs, leaves minced

Directions:

1. Cut the crusts off the bread slices and discard.  Rip up the bread and place in a small bowl.  Add the milk and let soak for about 5 minutes.
2. Oven should be left on 375 degrees F.
3. Meanwhile, mix the egg, cheese, and parsley with the beef in a large mixing bowl.  
4. Lift the bread from the milk and squeeze out.  Add soaked bread to the meat mixture.
5. Season with salt and pepper.  Mix well to combine.
6. Line a sheet pan with foil.  Drizzle a thin coat of olive oil on top.  
7. Form meatballs, about 2 “ round and line them up on the pan.
8. Roast until cooked through and golden, about 25 minutes.  Remove from pan to the tomato sauce.  
9. Let simmer in the sauce for 10-15 minutes.

For the Sicilian Almond Cookies:

Ingredients:

1 C almond flour

1/2 C sugar

1/2 t orange extract

2 egg whites

1/2 C crushed almonds

10 maraschino cherries

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
2. Line a baking sheet with parchment or use a sill pat.
3. In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the almond flour and sugar.  
4. Stir in the extract and egg whites and mix until a dough forms.  Kneed to combine.  (I did this all in the mixer with the whisk attachment.)
5. Pull off a small amount of dough and roll into a 1” ball.  Roll each ball in the crushed almonds.  Press a piece of quartered cherry on top.  (makes 18-20 cookies.)
6. Place on the prepared baking sheet.   Bake for 12 minutes until  golden.