Tour Part II Meatballs and Roma

Once we got to Rome the work got a little lighter in that we were in the same theatre for the whole time. And I didn't have to do the laundry, so I actually had time to do things during the day. It was marvelous.
Pamela and I, along with many others of our co worker stayed a few days after the tour. Pamlea, who company manages my life, arranged for us to take a cooking class with a chef in Trastevere, a neighborhood in Rome near to the apartment we rented.
The chef was open to requests for the 4 course menu. I asked for artichokes, and Renata had requested Tiramisu.
The chef was in to the whole local seasonal thing, and I quite enjoyed the whole experience. Especially the chef's incredibly attractive friend that showed up for an hour and floated in and out of the kitchen.
I digress. We arrived around 11 and then spent the day in the kitchen making the food.

The Menu
Fried artichokes with Southern Pesto
Pasta with pumpkin leek sauce
Meatballs in vegetable sauce
Tiramisu

We also drank wine.


Upon arriving back home, and having no food in the house, I used my groupon from fresh direct ($25 for $50 of food) and bought the ingredients to make the meat balls. I bought other things too, and I'd estimate the balls costing me $15 for 4 servings.
Renata came over and helped me make the meatballs. She deemed them better than the ones we had eaten in Rome. I think they ended up a little too salty on the second day, but ultimately a success. I also made them with all beef, while in Rome it was beef and sausage.

I'm going to give you the recipe our chef emailed me, if you want to try them at home. I'd use less salt than he writes.

Ingredients (serving 4 people):
- 1 lb / 500 gr (it has to be 70% beef and 30% pork, grounded and minced)
- 1 egg
- 1/2 cup / 50 gr breadcrumbs
- 3oz / 1/2 loaf leftover bread that you have to soak into milk (no crust, get only the soft part of the bread)
- 1 tbsp salt
The ingredients for the sauce are:
- 4 onions (yellow) finely chopped
- 6 diced tomatoes
- 4 red or green peppers
- 2 tbsp salt
- 5 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

Instructions: To make the meatballs you have to stir in the meat (a mix of grounded beef and pork), eggs, breadcrumbs, leftover bread soaked into milk, salt and pepper. Mix it well and set aside for a good half an hour just to season it. Then shape into meatballs. In the meantime heat the oil in a large heavy saucepan over medium heat and saute chopped onions, tomatoes and green or red peppers. Let them cook adding water to make them soft and smooth, then add the meatballs, salt and pepper.
Simmer over medium heat for 10-20 minutes (depending on how big your meatballs are shaped) until cooked all the way through the meat, turning carefully once or twice.