The ‘Gate Plate: Simple Spaghetti and Meatballs: Simple and scrumptious recipes for college students

When I was younger, I always looked forward to the first week of school. Not simply for the thrill of using my new supplies I had spent hours searching for at Staples, or to be reunited with my friends after a long summer break, but to have the chance to dig into the spaghetti and meatballs my family would make at the end of the first week of school each year. For me, this tradition marked the new beginning of a school year with lots of learning, excitement and fun to come. I still associate spaghetti and meatballs with sitting around my family’s dining room table and sharing anecdotes from my first days of school. Even now, as a senior in college, I hold the same torch to sharing stories and love for meals, and I hope I can share my passion for food and cooking with the rest of you all at Colgate.

 

SERVES: 5 people

PREP TIME: 20 minutes

COOK TIME:  20-25 minutes

 

EASY TIPS: You are welcome to substitute turkey for any alternative meat of your choosing. Some of my housemates are vegan, and substituted with their favorite meat alternatives!

  • 1 box of spaghetti pasta (or your choice of pasta/grain)
  • 1 pound lean ground turkey
  • ⅔ cup breadcrumbs
  • ¼ cup shredded parmesan cheese
  • Handful of chopped parsley
  • Handful of dried rosemary
  • ¼ cup chopped basil
  • 3 cloves of garlic, chopped
  • ½ red onion, chopped
  • ¼ cup olive oil, plus more for cooking
  • 1 egg
  • Favorite tomato sauce
  • Parmesan cheese, for topping

 

INSTRUCTIONS:

  1. Boil water and cook spaghetti according to the package. Drain, rinse and set aside.
  2. Combine ground meat, breadcrumbs, parmesan cheese, herbs, garlic, onion, olive oil and egg into a large bowl. Season with salt and pepper.
  3. Coating hands with nonstick cooking spray or olive oil, roll the meat into small balls, depending on how large you want your meatballs to be.
  4. Heat a saucepan over medium heat with the olive oil. Add the meatballs and cook until browned. Finish cooking the meatballs in the oven if desired, to ensure they are cooked through.
  5. Serve with spaghetti and sauce, and top with cheese!