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1
In a small bowl, soak the bread slices in milk until completely soft.
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2
In a medium saucepan over medium heat, add the olive oil, onions and garlic and saute until translucent, about 8 minutes.
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3
Remove from the heat and allow to cool.
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4
In a large bowl, combine the ground meats with the dried seasonings, Parmesan, cooked onions, the eggs, salt and the bread mixture.
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5
Mix with your hands until well combined.
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6
Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour.
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7
Remove the chilled meat mixture from the refrigerator.
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8
Roll the mixture into 12 large meatballs.
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9
In a large skillet, add about 1/2-inch of canola oil.
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10
Heat the pan over medium-high heat.
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11
Fry the meatballs until browned on all sides.
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12
Cook them in batches, if they don't all fit in the pan at once.
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13
Set aside.
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14
Tomato Sauce:
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15
In a large pot, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium heat and saute the onions and garlic until soft, about 6 minutes.
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16
Stir in the banana, red pepper flakes and crushed tomatoes.
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17
Add the meatballs, lower the heat and simmer the sauce until thickened and the meatballs are cooked through, about 1 hour.
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18
Taste and season with salt and pepper, if needed.
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19
Garlic Bread:
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20
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
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21
Put the garlic heads on a large square of foil, cut side up.
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22
Drizzle them with olive oil and wrap them up tightly.
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23
Put the packet on a baking sheet and roast for 30 minutes.
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24
Remove the garlic from the wrap and let it cool.
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25
Squeeze the garlic out of the heads into a small bowl.
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26
Stir in the softened butter, salt and parsley and blend well.
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27
Generously spread the butter mixture on each half of the bread.
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28
Put the bread halves on a sheet pan and bake until toasty and brown, about 15 minutes.
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29
Slice each half of the bread into 12 slices.
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30
Whipped Ricotta:
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31
In a large bowl, combine the ricotta, milk, half-and-half and salt and pepper, to taste.
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32
Using a whisk, blend everything together until creamy and fluffy.
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33
Tomato Salad:
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34
Stir together the olive oil, salt and pepper and basil.
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35
Toss the tomatoes in the oil.
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36
To serve the meatball 'sundae': put 3 meatballs and some sauce in each shallow bowl, top with some of the tomato salad, and the whipped ricotta.
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37
Arrange the bread slices on the sides of the meatballs to resemble a banana split and serve.
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38
Food Network Kitchens have not tested this recipe and therefore, we cannot make representation as to the results.
