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Dine and Dish

Food blog with family recipes

November 23, 2010

A Thankful Belly {Recipe: Mom’s Spaghetti and Meatballs}

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Mom's Spaghetti And Meatballs
Thanksgiving…what does it mean to you? I admit, I try to have an attitude of gratitude each day of my life, but honestly..sometimes when you are knee deep in a 4 year old having a fit about not wanting to brush her teeth, an 8 year old giving you drama that he gets treated unfairly because he’s the only boy in the house, a 6 year old who enjoys being the martyr so much that she tattles on everyone and a 1 year old who thinks that screaming is the best form of communication, my ever present attitude of thankfulness kind of goes out the window.

Many times I need to remind myself that life is good. It truly is. This Thanksgiving and this coming year, I am taking on The Happiness Project with a group of friends, and I can’t wait to begin an intense focus on the things that make me happy, which are also the things I am most thankful for. (You can start your own Happiness Project – check out Grechen Rubin’s blog for more details!)

The list of things I am thankful for is abundant, and one of the top things on the list is food and family, both brought together by this recipe for my mom’s Spaghetti and Meatballs. When I am really missing my parents and wishing they didn’t live so far away, one of the easiest ways for me to feel like they are right here around the dinner table with us is to cook up a pot of Mom’s Spaghetti and Meatballs. I grew up with this meal and it is one of those that immediately takes me home, a place that I am extremely thankful for.

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A Thankful Belly {Recipe: Mom's Spaghetti and Meatballs}

The sauce on this dish is not a thick and chunky sauce like many of you might be used to. It is a light, "soupy" sauce, which complements the seasoned meatballs and pasta perfectly, in my opinion!
Author Dine & Dish

Ingredients

For the meatballs:

  • 2 pounds ground beef
  • 1 envelope Lipton Onion Soup Mix My mom only uses half a package, but I love adding all the flavor
  • 1 egg
  • 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons Italian Seasoning

For the sauce:

  • 1 Large can I believe it is 29oz Hunt's Tomato Sauce
  • 1/2 of can of water
  • 2 Teaspoons Italian seasoning
  • 1 envelope Lipton Onion Soup Mix
  • 1 pinch ground cloves don't skip this... it is her "secret" ingredient

Instructions

For the meatballs:

  1. Using your hands, combine all the ingredients until well blended. Pinch off pieces of the meat mixture and shape into meatballs. Place in a large stock pot or dutch oven, then follow remaining instructions.

For the sauce:

  1. In a large bowl, stir together sauce ingredients. Add to the stock pot with the meatballs and stir. Bring sauce to a boil, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat to medium low, place the lid on the pot, and cook until meatballs are cooked through. Depending on the size of your meatballs, this will be 30-45 minutes. (You can simmer this over low heat on your stove for a longer period of time, just remember to occasionally stir.).
  2. Serve over thick spaghetti. Make sure to reserve a small amount of your pasta water and toss with your spaghetti after draining. This will help the sauce to stick to the pasta. Now, tuck your napkin in your shirt and enjoy!

Disclosure: This blog post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

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Filed Under: Dinner, Previous Tagged With: comfort food, food, Italian, meatballs, memories, recipe, spaghetti, thanksgiving

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Aggie says

    November 23, 2010 at 2:21 pm

    I love thin soupy sauces with spaghetti and meatballs. And I’m with you, when I’m missing my family, food just brings me closer. Two Sundays ago I spent the morning making sauce and pasta and it just put a smile on my face because it reminded me of my Sundays w my family.

    Your picture is making my mouth water!

    And I can also relate to the feelings of gratitude…sometimes life kind of blurs things doesn’t it? Going to check out The Happiness Project.

    Reply
  2. Maria says

    November 23, 2010 at 2:30 pm

    Family recipes are the best! I love the happiness project! I am going to have to start that. It is nice to focus on the positive things in life.

    Have a very Happy Thanksgiving!

    Reply
  3. Tina @ Mommy's Kitchen says

    November 23, 2010 at 2:38 pm

    Kristen those meatballs look so easy. I really need to try this recipe the next time I make spaghetti & meatballs.

    Reply
  4. Aimee @ Simple Bites says

    November 23, 2010 at 2:39 pm

    Kristen, that spaghetti is killing me it looks so good. Your styling is perfection!

    Noah asked what we were having for Christmas dinner and if he could have spaghetti and meatballs. He loves them so!

    Reply
  5. Pat Wogan says

    November 23, 2010 at 3:08 pm

    Thank you for posting this recipe, Kristen. I believe it is the first time I have really seen it written down. I began making spaghetti and meatballs following a recipe from a cookbook called, “One Hundred Ways to Fix Hamburger.” I think the cookbook was put out by the Lipton Soup Company…now Unilever. Years later, I looked at the recipe and hardly recognized it as I had changed it over the years. It is one of my favorites and very easy to make.

    Reply
  6. Estela @ Weekly Bite says

    November 23, 2010 at 3:35 pm

    I love that there’s Lipton Soup mix in the sauce! We use those things all the time!

    Have a great Thanksgiving!!

    Reply
  7. Deanna says

    November 23, 2010 at 5:56 pm

    OMG that photo is amazing!!! I’m going to look into that happiness project. I’m thankful that we have this time of year to help us focus on what’s most important – family and friends!

    Reply
  8. Kathy says

    November 23, 2010 at 5:08 pm

    I am fixing this tonight! Yum. I didn’t know that about the water making the sauce stick better, I will try that. By the way…Mom also fixed hamburger gravy a lot, that could take you home, too…:-) On the Thanksgiving thing–one thing I do so our perpetually quiet “at home” holidays (so different from the ruckus we grew up in) is always, on the day before the dinner, have the kids tear up a loaf of bread into little pieces (for stuffing, like mom had us do, even though I’m the only one who likes it). Crazy, but that makes it feel like Thanksgiving and Christmas to me. Certainly is something we don’t do every day… Love you!

    Reply
  9. Judy says

    November 23, 2010 at 8:21 pm

    My Mom always joked she wasn’t much of a cook, but I will tell you …no matter how good it is , no one can touch her spaghetti sauce, I think it is the memory of her that intensifies it and makes it so darn good. I can make her recipe, but since she is the missing and missed ingredient, it doesn’t ever taste the same, good but not the same.

    Reply
  10. Alison Moore Smith says

    November 23, 2010 at 11:52 pm

    I use onion soup mix for hamburgers, meat loaf, and lots of ground meat dishes. Yum. I’ll have to try this recipe, too!

    Reply
  11. Jun says

    November 24, 2010 at 5:38 am

    That is the most enticing plate (or bowl) of meatball and spaghetti! Great site you have here! Would love to try your recipe one of these days!

    Reply
  12. Paula says

    November 24, 2010 at 5:48 am

    what a delicious blog! here is so many uncanny inspirations!

    have a nice time,
    Paula

    Reply
  13. Amy | She Wears Many Hats says

    November 24, 2010 at 5:50 am

    We never have meatballs with our spaghetti and I don’t know why. Tthese look easy peasy too. And after all the turkey and dressing some good ole spaghetti may be a nice welcome next week. Yummy.

    Reply
  14. marla {family fresh cooking} says

    November 24, 2010 at 5:58 am

    Kristin, thanks for giving us an attitude of gratitude. Even with the nutso chaos of having little kids I could not imagine my life any other way. It is tough to drown out the noise & whining of 2 – I could not imagine 4! great recipe that I need to try 🙂 Happy Thanksgiving!

    Reply
  15. bunkycooks says

    November 24, 2010 at 7:24 am

    I always am reminded that there are people worse off than I am, no matter how bad things can get. That seems to put everything back into perspective. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

    Reply
  16. Xiaolu @ 6 Bittersweets says

    November 24, 2010 at 7:55 am

    Wow great lighting and shot! and I don’t even eat meat hehe. But I bet my boyfriend would love this dish!

    Reply
  17. Heavenly Housewife says

    November 24, 2010 at 8:28 am

    I just love the look of your spaghetti. Looks like my mom’s too (who is also a huge fan of lipton soup mix). This post makes me smile when i think of her (she lives far a way).
    Wishing you and your family a wonderful thanksgiving. May you always have much to be thankful for daaaahling!
    *kisses* HH

    Reply
  18. Shaina says

    November 24, 2010 at 10:17 am

    This looks like such wonderful comfort food. Thank you for sharing your mom’s recipe, Kristen!

    Reply
  19. begin with a Sunny Outlook says

    November 24, 2010 at 10:23 am

    I never thought about adding more flavor using the onion soup mix. What a great idea!

    Reply
  20. naomi says

    November 24, 2010 at 10:27 am

    The happiness project sounds great. I’m headed over after this. First I have to tell you, I LOVE that picture. Wow-very eye catching. And of course it sounds fab!

    Reply
  21. Sues says

    November 24, 2010 at 11:27 am

    I absolutely LOVE that photo. It’s sooo appealing with the spaghetti and meatballs spilling over the top of the bowl 🙂

    I just finished reading The Happiness Project and enjoyed it a lot. I’m excited to see how your own project goes!

    Reply
  22. Wenderly says

    November 24, 2010 at 5:31 pm

    I’m right there with ya on the “attitude of gratitude” getting diluted by the everyday demands & attitudes of those we love. Sometimes we just get so entrenched in putting out the fires around us, we forget about the big picture. Think it’s time for a spaghetti & meatball reality check. Can’t wait to make your mom’s recipe!

    Reply
  23. bridget {bake at 350} says

    November 26, 2010 at 7:53 pm

    Love that picture! 🙂

    Reply
  24. Jen @ My Kitchen Addiction says

    November 29, 2010 at 7:34 am

    Beautiful post… and I love the idea of the happiness project. I think I need that right now.

    Plus, that is a fabulous recipe. In addition to trying to be more grateful and focus on all of the blessings in my life instead of the things that are going wrong, I could also use a nice big bowl of spaghetti and meatballs!

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Tweets that mention A Thankful Belly {Recipe: Mom's Spaghetti and Meatballs} | Dine and Dish -- Topsy.com says:
    November 23, 2010 at 2:43 pm

    […] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Kristen and Aggie's Kitchen, Audrey Fetterhoff. Audrey Fetterhoff said: RT @DineandDish: {New Blog Post} My "this is home" recipe… Mom's spaghetti and meatballs. http://su.pr/2xC59S […]

    Reply
  2. Happy Thanksgiving {Recipe: Peppermint Hot Chocolate} | Dine and Dish says:
    November 25, 2010 at 10:17 am

    […] in a cup I got from my grandpa when I was just a few years old…just the sight of it makes me happy) keeps your warm on this chilly day! […]

    Reply
  3. Recipe: Homemade Potato Yeast Rolls for Share Our Strength | Dine and Dish says:
    December 12, 2010 at 8:33 pm

    […] can find and hibernate for the day, getting lost in a good book. Add to that putting on a  pot of my favorite comfort food on the stove to warm our bellies, and you’ve got the recipe for a perfect, indoor, veg out […]

    Reply
  4. My Mom's Homemade Chicken and Egg Noodles - Comfort Food | Dine and Dish says:
    December 16, 2010 at 8:37 pm

    […] sharing a very special recipe with you today. I told you about my mom’s recipe for Spaghetti and Meatballs a few weeks ago. Her homemade Chicken and Noodle recipe is the other meal that feels like home. […]

    Reply
  5. A Thankful Belly {Recipe: Mom’s Spaghetti and Meatballs} | Dine and Dish « thygersen says:
    November 17, 2011 at 8:46 pm

    […] A Thankful Belly {Recipe: Mom’s Spaghetti and Meatballs} | Dine and Dish. […]

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  6. Kraft Singles Panini Press and Grilled Cheese Kit Giveaway | Dine and Dish says:
    February 15, 2012 at 2:31 pm

    […] me tell you. A smooshed cheese sandwich is as integral part of my childhood as, let’s say, my mom’s spaghetti and meatballs. To make a smooshed cheese sandwich […]

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  7. Balsamic Fish Tacos Recipe, Marzetti Simply Dressed Giveaway says:
    February 24, 2013 at 11:41 pm

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  8. Farro with Seafood Recipe {Weekly Menu Plan} - Dine and Dish says:
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    […] Wednesday, November 12th Mom’s Spaghetti and Meatballs […]

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Kristen-125Hi friends, I'm Kristen! Mom of 4, Ambassador of Happiness, Coffee Lover and Connection Seeker. Come say hi! Read More…
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I believe that in order to live a happy life, you have to make happiness happen through implementing simple things that make you happy into every day. Here are a few of the things that bring me happiness - I hope they do you too.

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H is for...high!
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It was so strange being on a plane again. I’m so thankful I have the antibodies because the flights were full, which seemed wrong, but everyone around me did seem to keep their masks on, so that was good.
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I can’t wait until travel becomes a regular part of life again. I’ve missed it so much!
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G is for...oh so grateful!

I flew to South Texas yesterday to visit my parents whom I haven’t seen in 2 years. They live around 17 hours away from us. We typical get to see each other a few times a year but with the pandemic and other health issues it just wasn’t able to happen and I’ve missed them soooo much.

Grateful to have had COVID last month. Although it was not at all fun, it gave me the antibodies to make this trip possible. My dad is having surgery tomorrow so I’m helping with my mom so my dad can recover without having to worry about her.

Kansas is enjoying frigid temperatures and snow. I picked a great week to head south.
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#palmtrees🌴 #palmtreesfordays #blueskiesandsunshine #wintersun #texasskies #kimklassen_innercircle @kimklassen_innercircle #silverlining
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F is for...food photography.
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This time of year especially, food photography (and I guess all photography actually) is a tug of war with time and light. I had planned on making and photographing a delicious pasta recipe, but my grocery delivery ran a couple of hours late because of snowstorm. So, at the eleventh hour I decided to make a cake...that took over an hour to bake and I had about 90 minutes of natural light left...leaving me with about 30 minutes of ok light to work with.
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Anyway, this wouldn't work for a client shoot because the cake, although delicious, didn't turn out looking so great. But it will work great for today's F photo for the @kimklassen_innercircle A-Z photo project:) Lemon Citrus Yogurt Cake from this weeks @cabotcheese newsletter. So good!
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E is for...Excitement!
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There’s a lot of excitement in Kansas City as our beloved @chiefs head back to the Super Bowl this weekend! #runitback 🏈
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It’s so strange because winning the super bowl last year was the last “normal” thing that happened before the pandemic hit. We went from a city full of excitement to shutting down and sheltering in place. Maybe when we win and bring the trophy home this year, it’ll be the start of something great. Let’s hope!
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Who are you rooting for Sunday? Chiefs, Buccaneers or tacos? 😂
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D is for... Dreary (and Dog)
February has always been my least favorite month. I have a special name for this month that may start with another not so nice F word...🤭.
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In Kansas, the sun usually doesn't shine that often, it's cold, and just kind of gray and blah.
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My indoor jungle makes me happy though...especially this space in my office. Houseplants almost makes me forget we’re in the “F” month 😂.
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Also, my dog (my favorite d word) would not sit still for a picture when I had my tripod set up, but I finally caught her sitting on her bed and had to catch a picture with my phone. Swipe and you’ll see she is much overdue for a haircut.
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C is for Coaching, Coffee and Crystals! Lots of C words today. My @rockyourhappy coaching practice has been the best thing. I am so lucky to be working with really great clients who are doing the hard work and making big changes in their lives. It’s been the perfect fit for me and I know it’s what I am meant to be doing. Coffee, of course, is my favorite C word and Crystals…my daughters got me into the energy powers of crystals and it’s been really fun to learn all about them.
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My beautiful, custom, Rock Your Happy bullet journal is from @maisielaneco . Coffee/espresso is from @mistoboxcoffee Fabulous photography backdrop is from @poppybeesurfaces . Crystals are from a wonderful local shop here in town.
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There’s still time to join in the @kimklassen_innercircle photography group, where this months theme is A-Z. Join us!
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B is for Books! Are you a big reader? I wasn’t really a reader growing up. Well, I take that back. In junior high I plowed through the Sweet Valley High series (anyone else?) 😊 And when I was in elementary school I would bust my butt to get to the highest level in the SRA Reading box before anyone else. But I wasn’t a kid who you’d find with their nose in a book, ever.
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It wasn’t until I was an adult, and my kids began to sleep through the night, that I started reading for fun. Now, I read all the time and it’s one of my favorite pastimes. I love talking books with people and sharing recommendations. I really don’t watch TV, so books, especially right now, is my main form of entertainment.
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This is why for the @kimklassen_innercircle A-Z photography challenge, I knew that Books would be my B. It’s my favorite B word (beating out Bullet Journaling, Bread, Blankets, Be Happy, etc).
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#simplepleasuresoflife #prettylittleinspo #bookcommunity #slowliving #cozyvibes #bookphotos #bookslove #beautyyouseek
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A is for Alone. I think one of the hardest things for me to get used to this past year is rarely being alone. My husband used to travel all the time. My school aged kids were in school all day while I worked. I’d even get several days a month in a hotel room by myself for my work travels. I like my alone time and it’s definitely something I miss.
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I’m easily distracted so you will usually find me working in complete silence…maybe just the hum of my essential oil diffuser and the sound of my fingers on my keyboard. I need the quiet and treasure silence.
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With that said, I’ve loved the extra time with my family - and we’ve all learned over the past several months how to give each other space and recognize when we need that space. As of today, my kids all are back to school full time in person 😢. Nick is still working from home and will be for the time being, but now the aloneness feels strange. I’m sure we’ll get used to this “new normal” yet again!
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This month in @kimklassen photography Inner Circle, we’re tackling the alphabet, with an A-Z photography challenge (interpreting that however we see fit). If you want to join us, check out this wonderful community of photographers at @kimklassen_innercircle 📷.
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