Meatloaf Casserole--- Kid tested, husband approved!

Well, I posted my first journal entry in July and it is now February. I'd say that time flies, and that is partially true, but time is also filled with library visits, play dates, park adventures, and, of course, snuggling. So, we'll try this whole blogging thing again!

I recently started getting "Martha Stewart Living" in the mail. It's basically like getting a magazine filled with pictures of what your home will never look like--- ever. Which is fine, of course! We like our cluttered apartment living. "Snugglebot Living" magazine would basically be Martha Stewart's nightmare.

Anyway...

I've decided to take one recipe a month from the magazine--- something that doesn't look too daunting--- and see what I can find at Aldi to fit the ingredient list. I've done this a few times so far, and they've mostly been winners. I figured I'd share the first one with you all! The original recipe is from the January edition of "Martha Stewart Living"!

Aldi Meatball Casserole

1 lb ground pork sausage

1 lb ground beef

1 cup Italian breadcrumbs

1/2 tsp coarse salt

2 large eggs

1 clove minced garlic (used pre-minced garlic in oil from Aldi)

1/4 cup dried parsley

2 tablespoons virgin olive oil

1/2 small onion, finely chopped

pinch of red pepper flakes

1 28 oz can crushed tomato

8 oz presliced mozzarella

1) Mix pork, beef, breadcrumbs, salt, eggs, garlic and parsley in a large bowl. Form into 2 inch balls.

2) Heat oil in a large ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat. Add meatballs: cook for 10 minutes until brown all over. (I cooked for closer to 20 to make sure they were all the way done. The recipe wants you to get them all the way done later, but I didn't have any over-cooking problems the way I did it) Remove meatballs with a slotted spoon.

3) Reduce heat to medium. Add onion and pepper flakes; cook for 4 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add tomatoes and basil, simmer for 8 minutes

4) Return meatballs to pan, simmer for 20 minutes (I simmered for 15)

5) Heat broiler. Arrange mozzarella on top. Broil until melted, 2 to 3 minutes. (I had to transfer everything into a pan because we don't have an ovenproof skillet)

My husband thought this was amazing! The flavor was much more complex than what we're used to eating. It was a bit more time consuming than most things that I bake, and I was very thankful that my husband was working from home when I made it, so I could ask him to watch our kiddo here and there while I tried to figure out what I was doing. So, all in all, great recipe for a weekend!