Attention Meatball Lovers

Did you know the Euro 2012 Football (Soccer) Championship starts this weekend? Me neither. All I know is that Mr. Zoom has been checking league tables and group listings for weeks in anticipation. The only thing I know about this championship is that Mr. Zoom has blocked off the afternoon hours of 12-5 for the next 3 weekends to watch the matches. Under normal circumstances I might be annoyed, but I know he loves this. And, I can’t fault the guy. He doesn’t follow baseball, or basketball, or hockey AT ALL. I can handle a couple of weeks of soccer watching.

My favorite thing about watching major sporting events is the food that goes along with them. Well actually, pretty much my favorite thing about any event is the food that goes along with it. Football food, baseball food, even swimming food (cookouts?!) I love. And, my favorite thing to make for watching sports is a sloppy meatball sub. Who doesn’t love a good meatball?

I’ll tell you who…Mr. Zoom. He’s a picky meatball eater. I’ve tried dozens of recipes from sweet and sour to Swedish with no avail. I’ve tried turkey, chicken, pork/beef mixtures. We’ve done eggs, no eggs, breadcrumbs, no breadcrumbs. My last resort was a box of Aidell’s teriyaki pineapple meatballs from Costco. I tried them one Sample Saturday and thought they were delicious. Mr. Zoom was not a fan.

So I consulted my good old friend, Rachel Ray. I think she’s got a thing for sports food too. Last year, while doing some meatball research, I came across this recipe and thought I’d give it a shot. I’m here to say people…this was it. This is the meatball recipe that changed the game for Mr. Zoom.

I like to mix these guys up, freeze half, and bake the rest on game day. I serve them on toasted baguettes, smothered in San Marzano marinara sauce, and broiled with a heaping pile of pecorino. TO DIE FOR.

If you find yourself cooped up in front of the television watching Euro 2012 this weekend, which I highly doubt you will, whip up a batch of these. I promise it will make the game much more enjoyable!