When you are married to someone in the military, you realize how important a home cooked meal is for your spouse.  My husband is like a growing child, he is always hungry. When he comes back from the field, I know he is ready to enjoy real food after eating MRE’s for days, weeks, and sometimes months.

In this section of the blog, I will be sharing with you some of my husband’s favorite meals that are easy on your budget, healthy and balanced, as well as simple to prepare.  Due to my new-found love of using fresh herbs in everything I cook, I will also include a section in each post describing the health benefits of the herbs used.

This week’s recipe is perfect when you want to cook one meal and have leftovers for several days afterwards.

This recipe calls for fresh Parsley and Oregano.   The health benefits of parsley are numerous. It can be used to control diabetes, helps reduce inflammation in the joints, boosts your immune system, and aids in fighting osteoporosis due to the calcium content in this magical herb. Oregano’s benefits include; boosting your immune system, assisting in digestion, detoxifying your body, and promoting bone health to name a few.  To learn more about the health benefits of oregano, click here.

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon-fresh chopped parsley

1 teaspoon-fresh chopped oregano

¼ cup-Italian bread crumbs

1 package-ground mild Italian sausage

1 package-ground 93% lean beef

1 jar-marinara sauce

1 package-spaghetti noodles

1/3 cup-water

1-package of sub rolls

1-package of Italian blend shredded cheese

Instructions:

1-Chop the fresh parsley and oregano finely and add to a mixing bowl.

2-Add in the ¼ cup of bread crumbs and mix.

3-Add the package of ground beef and mix with the bread crumb mixture by hand kneading the ingredients together.

4-Add the package of ground Italian sausage to the ground beef mixture and knead together.

5-Begin rolling the meat mixture into medium-sized meatballs (around the size of a golf ball) and place them into a large-sized frying pan that is not heated up yet.

6-Once you have rolled out all of the meatballs, place the skillet on medium heat and begin searing the meatballs on each side, turning them as they brown.

*The meatballs only need to be browned on the outside. They do not need to be cooked all the way through on the inside. DO NOT eat the meatballs. It’s tempting, but they will not be fully cooked yet.

7-As each of the meatballs finish browning, place them on a paper towel to drain out the grease.

8-Add the jar of marinara sauce to a large pot. Add 1/3 cup of water to the jar (shake the contents) and add into the large pot of sauce.

9-Once you are finished browning the meatballs and draining the grease from them, add to the large pot of sauce.  Simmer slowly on low heat for at least an hour or until the meatballs are cooked all the way through.

10-Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

11-Cut open the sub rolls and place on a cookie sheet, then add Italian blend cheese on each side of the bread that is cut open.

12-Toast the sub rolls for 5-7 minutes or until cheese is melted.

13-Add meatballs and sauce to your subs, then serve.

Note: You may add shredded lettuce to your subs if you so desire, and serve with chips or raw vegetables and dip for a healthier option.

This meal costs $16.00 and serves 6-8.

*Change up your leftover sauce by simply boiling some spaghetti noodles, heating up the sauce, and adding a side salad.

© Strength 4 Spouses, LLC 2018.