EASY recipe!

If you want the original recipe, click here. Since I couldn't quite find everything at our grocery store, I adapted. I think that any mom (or someone on a budget) should have this in their repertoire of recipes. :)

Mozzarella Stuffed Sausage Meatballs with Tomato Basil Sauce
2 lbs sausage (whatever you like or keep on hand)
3 sticks of mozzarella string cheese
1 (28 oz) can crushed tomatoes
4 oz pesto

Pre-heat oven to 400.

Cut up each stick of cheese into 4 even pieces (should have 12 total chunks). If the sausage is in link, cut open casings and put meat in a bowl. Combine the meat into a single mound and score into 4 sections. Each section will produce 3 large meatballs. Take a handful of meat and form a ball around one piece of cheese. Place on a non-stick baking sheet. Roll 12 balls. Drizzle each with a little olive oil and bake for about 20 minutes.

While the meatballs bake, pour the tomatoes into a saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and let simmer for 8-10 minutes. When meatballs and any sides are done, turn off heat and stir in 4 oz (1/2 cup) of pesto.

NOTES:

- This recipe has a LOT of oil (which excessive amounts of fat don't like me so much) so next time I make this I'll omit the oil on the meatballs and bake them on a broiler pan so that the grease falls away from the meat.

- I went ahead and made regular mashed potatoes with this but it'd be great on pasta too. Or make the potatoes in the linked recipe using whatever Parm or Parm/Regg blend cheese you have on hand.

- Much as I'd love to get all gourmet and roast broccolini with this, let's tune into reality. I keep frozen broccoli on hand so just steam some of that instead.

- The sauce is AMAZING!!! I'm going to use the leftovers as a pizza sauce next weekend and I might even get some breadsticks to dip too. :)