MOZZARELLA STUFFED MEATBALLS

There are a lot of ways to make meatballs, and everyone has their favorite recipe. Mine is a combination of ground beef and pork, with a bit of grated Parmesan, lots of seasonings, and cubes of mozzarella stuffed in the middle. In my opinion, melted cheese is a great addition to just about anything.

My standard Italian seasoning has always been from Penzey’s, and it’s always been a good choice, but this time I used Nana’s Italian Seasoning, a spice mix created specifically for Ava Jane’s Kitchen, and available by joining their spice club. It’s got the usual herbs you find in an Italian mix — basil, marjoram, oregano, and thyme — but it’s also got the addition of citrus, and bell peppers, which give it a zesty flavor that rounds out any dish. It’s also made with Colima Sea Salt, so it helps to season your dish as well. It’s a nice change of pace from my traditional herb-only blend.

Once mixed, I brushed the meatballs with Ava Jane’s Kitchen Avocado Oil, and baked in a high heat oven. The end result was crispy, flavorful meatballs that are delicious as is or with your favorite pasta sauce. These are bigger than standard meatballs, as I find stuffing cheese in a smaller ball overwhelms them, but feel free to make them any size you like.