Meatballs for Goodness

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After all these years, my nana's meatball recipe is still nurturing and comforting. I am delighted to share once again a simple recipe filled with goodness. Thank you nana for teaching me the essentials of a recipe, even those ingredients not listed here. 

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Nana’s Meatballs, as seen on George Hirsch Lifestyle

Makes 12 Jumbo, 24 large or 40 mini meatballs

chefgeorgehirsch.com | George Hirsch Lifestyle

3 pounds ground beef, 80 / 20 blend; can use combo of beef, pork, and veal

4 cloves garlic, minced

1/2 sweet onion, chopped fine

2 eggs, cracked and beaten

1/4 cup Parmesan cheese

2 Tablespoons fresh Italian parsley, chopped

1 teaspoon dried basil

1 teaspoon dried oregano

3 cups day old Italian bread, pulsed into crumbs

1/2 cup chicken broth, to soften bread crumbs (variable amount may have to add more broth just to soften crumbs) 

Fresh ground black pepper

* Note all ingredients should be very cold before blending. 

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In a mixer or by hand mix all ingredients until well blended. Dip hands in ice water before shaping into round balls.

Spray an oven-roasting pan with grease spray.

Use an ice cream and scoop up meatballs; roll by hand until they are shaped round. Do not over handle as to not over warm up meat. Repeat until all meat is used up. Do not over crowd meatballs to make it easier to move them while baking. 

Refrigerate meatballs for at least 30 minutes to chill. Prepare Tomato Sauce below.

Pre heat a large heavy gauge sauté pan to high heat, or if making a large quantity of meatballs brown in a hot oven at 425 degrees F. 

Roast meatballs for five minutes in oven or on stovetop just until they begin to brown. If roasting gently shake pan to move meatballs to turn over, or use a spatula for meatballs if browning in sauté pan. Continue cooking for a few additional minutes (or less if mini) or until meatballs are brown on the outside. Meatballs will not be fully cooked and will continue to cook in tomato sauce. 

Remove meatballs with a spatula and add to gently simmering sauce and continue cooking for 20-30 minutes. 

For the Tomato Sauce:

2 Tablespoons Olive Oil 

1/2 cup minced sweet onion

6 cloves garlic, minced 

2 (28 ounce) cans crushed San Marzano Tomatoes

2 (6.5 ounce) cans tomato sauce

1 Tablespoon dried basil leaves

1/2 teaspoon oregano

Fresh ground black pepper

2 Tablespoons each fresh chopped parsley and basil

In a large saucepot sauté add olive oil, onion, and garlic over medium heat until light brown. Stir in crushed tomatoes and tomato sauce. Season with dried basil, oregano, Italian seasoning, pepper, and half of the parsley. Simmer, covered, for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add cooked browned meatballs and top with fresh chopped parsley and basil before serving. 

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Regional City Dogs

Tune-in GHL Create TV Sat 6/22 6AM/6PM, Sun 6/23 12PM est. 

What could be better than going out to the ball park? Bringing the ball park home and getting creative with franks by using a mix of city savory toppings. Impress your guests with premium toppings and enjoy some tasteful and fun regional spins on the All-American wiener for your next cookout.

Franks and Hot Dog Recipes

LA Taco Wrap Use farm fresh veggies, sweet caramelized onions, and my 60-sec guacamole as a topping wrapped in a warm flour tortilla. 

Chicago 2nd City Dog How do you improve a Chicago Hot Dog that has been served up in ballparks for over 100 years? for the 2nd city serve up two dogs. AND Infused Hot dogs are gently heated in a good quality beer.

Carolina Double Dip Carolina BBQ is a multi-hour long process, low and slow. For the ultimate mix of 100% Beef hot dog, wrapped with what Carolina does best--pork. And smokey bacon kicks up the flavor and texture.

NYC Street Corner Frank Home to Hot Dog street carts with over 1.5 billion franks. Split top soft buns with spicy deli-style mustard, caramelized red onion sauce, sauerkraut, relish and handcrafted potato chips on the side.

Jersey Red Hots Think flatbread pizza meets hot dogs. Grilled or pan fried and stuffed into Italian bread pizza along with crispy pancetta, potatoes, provolone, fried onion, and grilled red hot pepper.

Chef George Hirsch’s Caramelized Onions Preheat a nonstick saucepan to a medium heat. Place 2 cups sliced onions in the pan and cover. Allow to cook for 2-3 minutes, or until the onions begin to brown. Stir and cover again. Continue the process until the onions are a golden brown. Remove the cover. Cook off any excess moisture. Remove the onions from the pan and cool.

Chef George Hirsch’s Red Onion Sauce Preheat a nonstick saucepan to a medium heat. Place 2 cups sweet sliced onions and 4 cloves of chopped garlic in the pan and cover. Allow to cook for 2-3 minutes, or until the onions begin to brown. Stir and add 1⁄4 cup ketchup, 1 Tablespoon paprika, 2 Tablespoons balsamic vinegar, 1⁄4 teaspoon red pepper flakes. Stir all ingredients into onions and cover again. Simmer for 10 minutes. Serve warm with sausage, franks or burgers.

 Hot Dog Grilling & Cooking Tips

1 - Start with a clean grill, pre heat grill to high heat; always light grill with the cover up 

2 - Place a high sided casserole pan with *seasoned liquid on grill or side burner and bring up to a boil. *Seasoned Liquid: 1 Bottle of beer, sliced onion, brown sugar, or 2 Cups beef or chicken broth, sliced onion, bay leaf. Or, 1/2 Bottle Beer, 1 Cup Broth, Sliced Onion, juice from drained can of baked beens!

3 - Add Hot Dogs, and very gently simmer and heat until warm 4-5 minutes. With tongs remove hot dogs from liquid and quickly sear on grill surface turning to brown on each side

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George Hirsch Living it UP! cooking & lifestyle book
George Hirsch Living it UP! cooking & lifestyle book
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keeping peace with Irish Coffee

I had an enjoyable afternoon tea with fellow Create TV host and Ireland’s TV chef, cookbook author Rachael Allen of Ballymaloe. Rachel and I exchanged our foodie stories and the like beginnings in our culinary careers. She shared with me her simplistic approach to food. I can't agree more. We agree that most are learning from this approach; getting back to the roots of growing and eating locally grown foods. The thing is, this in nothing new in Ireland, in fact they never lost their connection to sustainability. 

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Chefs Rachael Allen and George Hirsch, Adair Manor, Adair Co. Limerick, Ireland However, one topic of discussion is as serious as rugby or politics. I asked just about every person I meet in Ireland which brand of tea they preferred better, Lyons or Barry's. Barry's seemed to hold the lead during our filming. But then upon departure at Irish Customs I was told I was bringing home the wrong brand. They preferred Lyons. I can't be swayed, Barry's fan here.

So in keeping peace let’s drink Irish Coffee, a warming beverage on a chilly evening. Served first to arriving passengers in County Limerick, what is now Shannon International Airport. Ideal served with a slice of Chocolate Torta from George Hirsch Lifestyle. Sláinte! 

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Irish Coffee

Makes one serving

chefgeorgehirsch.com | from George Hirsch Lifestyle

1 ounce Jameson Irish Whiskey

1/2 ounce Baileys Irish Cream

1/2 cup hot strong coffee

Lemon wedge

Sugar to coat glass

Whipped cream

Prepare a sugar-rimmed glass by rubbing a piece of lemon or orange around the rim of a large wine glass. Dip 1/4 inch of the rim of the glass into a plate of sugar, coating the edge.

Place a teaspoon in glass. The spoon will diffuse the heat when hot coffee is poured into the glass. 

Add whiskey and Baileys. Pour coffee into glass over spoon. Remove spoon. Top with a dollop of whipped cream.

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George's Gameday Posole

A traditional Mexican dish from the pacific coast region of Jalisco; Posole is a thick soup made with hominy–dried corn with the hull and germ removed. Makes any large gathering a fiesta!

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George's Gameday Posole

Makes 8 servings

chefgeorgehirsch.com | George Hirsch Lifestyle

2 pounds pork shoulder chops

1/2 cup Posole Pork Rub

3 Tablespoons olive oil

1 sweet onion, sliced thick, grilled and chopped

4 jalapenos, roasted on grill; split seeded and chopped

6 cloves garlic, chopped

4 cups hot chicken broth

4 cups canned hominy, drained and rinsed

1 Tablespoon coarsely chopped fresh cilentro

3 fresh red radishes, sliced thin

1 cup fresh cabbage, finely shredded

Rub pork on all sides with Posole Pork Rub, and refrigerate for at least two 2 hours or overnight.

Pre heat large soup pot  to high heat.

Brush chops with 2 Tablespoons olive oil. Add chops and sear pork on both sides until browned and not fully cooked. Add 1 Tablespoon olive oil, chopped onion, garlic, and cook for 2 minutes. Add the hot broth, jalapenos, hominy and simmer for 1 hour. Remove chops, cool and chop meat into small pieces. Put pork back into soup. Continue cooking for 30 additional minutes. The longer and slower the soup simmers the better.

Stir in cilantro and serve bowls of soup topped with sliced radish, shredded cabbage, and with warm corn tortillas.

Posole Pork Rub

2 Tablespoons brown sugar

1 Tablespoon each: ground cumin, black pepper, garlic powder, sweet paprika, chili powder, thyme

1/2 teaspoon each: nutmeg, allspice

Combine all ingredients in a small bowl and mix well. Store in a tightly sealed container.

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