Bite with Belkys: Meatballs by Tom Haynes

The Chef: Tom Haynes

The Dish: Meatballs

Belkys Nerey: "Hey everybody! Today my main man here, Tom Haynes is finally breaking down and giving me his meatball recipe I've been begging foir this recipe forever. And it's about time you're gonna give it to us."

Tom Haynes: "First of all I love that i'm your main man but secondly I can't take credit it's my mother's recipe. It dates back generations from Italy from Albania it's many cultures coming together in one dish."

• 1 lb. meat
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1 pinch of pepper
• 6 slices of bread-ground up in cuisinart
• 2 teaspoons garlic powder
• 2 eggs
• Canned whole, peeled tomatoes
• Handful of finely chopped parsley
• Romano cheese
• 1/4 cup canola oil

• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil (enough to coat pan)
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1 medium-sized onion, diced
• 4 cloves garlic, crushed
• 2 teaspoons crazy jane's mixed up salt (salt, pepper, dehydrated onion,
• Garlic)
• 2 teaspoons sugar
• Canned whole, peeled tomatoes
• 1/4 cup romano cheese
• Basil for garnish (optional)

Method of preparation (Meatballs):
- In a bowl, add meat, salt, pepper, bread, garlic powder, and eggs.

- Then add 2 tablesppons tomato sauce from the can of whole, peeled tomatoes.

- Add parsley and Romano cheese. Mix together.

- Then roll the meat into balls.

- Add canola oil to a saute pan or fryer and add meatballs.

- Cook until browned on the outside.

- Add meatballs to sauce and simmer for 30 minutes.

Sauce:
- In a large pot, add olive oil, butter and chopped onion.

- Stir until translucent and carmelized.

- Add garlic, mixed up salt, and sugar.

- Then in a Cuisinart or blender, add can of tomatoes.

- Then put in pot and add Romano cheese and simmer for 20 minutes.

To plate dish:
Add your favorite pasta, meatballs, ladle sauce on top. Garnish with Romano cheese and basil.

Serves 4.

These are definitely restaurant quality meatballs -- delicious!

And next week tune in to watch Lynn make a special dessert -- actually, it's the only thing she can cook.