Meat Lovers Meatballs

Tom and I have a couple of great friends, TJ and Denise.  They were coming over the other night and I of course, had to come up with something Dukan-fun for me, yet something my “less than he used to be picky son” TJ, would eat.  Tom and I decided he was our “son” because his name has our initials in it: Tom and Janice, and we’ve always felt like they were our family.  Anyway, these meatballs just SCREAM football watching.  So they are a perfect for a cool Sunday afternoon.  They also satisfy a pizza craving you might be having and the guys watching the game with you won’t even notice they’re diet food!!  Skip the sauce for a PP day.

MEAT LOVERS MEATBALLS

1 lb ground sirloin
3 turkey Italian sausages, removed from casings
1/4 cup Real Bacon bits
15 slices turkey pepperoni, quartered
1/2 cup fat free mozzarella cheese, shredded
2 T tomato paste
1/2 cup oat bran
1 egg
1/4 cup marinara sauce (recipe below)
1 t basil
1 t oregano
1/2 t garlic powder
1/2 t garlic salt
1 T minced onion
red pepper flakes to taste

Mix all ingredients by hand til combined, careful not to handle too much.  Makes about 3 dozen 1 1/2-inch meatballs.  Bake at 400 for 20 minutes and serve with Marinara Sauce.

MARINARA SAUCE

1 small onion, chopped
4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
2 T balsamic vinegar
1/4 t Splenda
2 t dried basil
1/2 t red pepper flakes
1/4 t dried oregano
1 T dried parsley
2 T tomato paste
2 cans diced tomatoes or 1 large can of plum tomatoes, chopped

Brown onion in a bit of cooking spray over medium-high heat for 5 minutes, adding the garlic in the last minute.  Stir in vinegar and the rest of the ingredients and bring to a boil.  Reduce heat to medium, and cook, uncovered for about 15 minutes.  Makes 3 cups.