Lydia's Mom Makes the "Best Meatballs in the Universe" in a Very Unexpected Way
"I need to learn to do this," RHOC alum Lydia McLaughlin said of her mom's unconventional cooking tip.
Lydia McLaughlin is the first to admit she didn't exactly inherit her mom Judy Stirling's culinary skills. "I feel like your generation is really good at cooking and then my generation isn't as good," The Real Housewives of Orange County alum told Judy in the Bravo Insider exclusive series Glitter Town. "It's never too late. I have three kids, now's the time I need to learn to do this."
As seen in the video above, Judy was beyond excited to teach her daughter how to make her meatball recipe. "My meatballs are the best meatballs in the universe," Judy declared. "Probably in the whole galaxy."
Throughout their meal prep, Judy had plenty of cooking tips for Lydia, including putting a piece of bread in her mouth while cutting an onion to prevent crying and throwing pasta against the wall to see if it sticks (and is therefore done.) However, the most unique suggestion of all was when Judy revealed the key secret to making perfect meatballs: speaking to the ingredients.
"I give my recipe to other people and it never comes out the same and I'm sure it's because they aren't taking to the food," Judy said. "Right now, I'm doing a special blessing on the garlic. Garlic, I want you to shimmer, shine, and glisten. The food is alive!"
Ready to master the recipe, Lydia began to talk to the food as well. "OK, garlic, I want you to shine in the meatballs," she said. "I want you to have good taste and live your best garlic life."
Despite a few bumps along the way, including a minor fire, the meatballs were ultimately cooked to perfection. "If I wasn't married I would give this to someone and they'd marry me," Lydia declared after eating one.
Check out the meatball recipe, which Lydia described as "fourth generation passed down from the streets of Napoli," below and and watch the mother-daughter duo whip up the meal in the video above!
Judy Stirling's "Best Meatballs in the Universe" Recipe
Ingredients:
- 1lb ground sirloin
- 2 eggs
- 1 tbl Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tbl ketchup
- 1 tbl A1 sauce
- 1 cup breadcrumbs
- I cup Parmesan cheese
- 3-4 shallots or 1 onion finely chopped
- Salt and pepper (a dash each)
Directions:
- Squish it all together with your hands. This is the fun part.
- Make meatballs into golf size balls
- Place on cookie sheet
- Broil for 10-14 minutes on high, but put meatballs on 2nd highest shelf and keep an eye on them until cooked
