An Unexpected Use for Bacon!

Last year Gonzo and I were watching the show The Best Thing I Ever Ate, on Food Network.  Honestly, there was nothing else on and so we settled on this.  On of the chefs came on talking about this pasta dish that he loved called Meatballs with Bacon Marinara!  Gonzo and I both looked at each other like, really bacon!  So I went online and found the recipe.  We adapted to more of our taste preference.  So since then we have fixed it multiple times and we love, love, love it.  I mean bacon is pretty good in anything in my opinion.

Bacon Marinara Sauce

7 or 8 strips of bacon chopped (I mean lets be real and just go with 8)

1 large onion diced

1 clove of garlic minced

salt and pepper to taste

2-28oz cans of peeled crushed tomatoes

1 can of diced tomatoes

Cook the bacon on medium until crispy and then drain most of the fat.  Leave about 1Tbsp. in the pan to saute the onions.  

Add the onions to the bacon and saute until the onions are translucent.  Add the garlic and salt and pepper and saute another minute or so.  You don't want to burn the garlic to make sure and stir.  

Add the tomatoes to the bacon, onion, and garlic mixture and stir.  Bring to a boil and turn the heat down to low.  Simmer on low uncovered for an hour or so.  Stir to make sure it doesn't burn on the bottom.  

Italian Style Meatballs

2 lb. of ground chuck 

3/4 cup of bread crumbs

3/4 cup to 1 cup of grated parmigiano cheese

3/4 cup of chopped fresh parsley

3 cloves of garlic minced

2 eggs

salt and pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 400 degrees on convection bake.  If you don't have convection bake them at 425 degrees.  I like convection because it browns them all the way around without having to turn the meatballs through the cooking.  When you use convection bake rather than bake you go down 25 degrees.

Mix all the ingredients for the meatballs together in a bowl and use a handy ice cream/cookie dough scoop to form the meatballs.  If you don't have the kitchen tool go get one!  I use this thing so much - cookie, cupcakes, ice cream, and meatballs.  It's for sure a favorite in my kitchen.  

Bake these good looking suckers for 25 - 30 minutes or until browned all the way around and juices run clear on the tray.

Let the meatballs cool and add them to the sauce.

Now look at the goodness!  Meatballs and Bacon Marinara!  Oh so yummy!

Looks pretty good to me!  Let's EAT!

This girl likes it too!