14Y’s Favorite Recipes

The staff at 14th Street Y have launched the 14Y Community Corner, a digital platform for us to create and share videos including Adult Studies classes, family-friendly activities, helpful tips to keep you busy while at home, and Arts + Culture content. As we continue to add content to the platform, we’re still thinking of everyone. We thought it’d be fun to share some of our favorite recipes with our community to try out as we practice social distancing. Ready for some yummy meals and treats? 

Spaghetti Carbonara 

Meredith Fein Lichtenberg, Lead Community Catalyst

Directions 

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to boil and cook a pound of spaghetti according to the package directions. When you drain the pasta, reserve a cup of the cooking liquid and set aside.
2. While the pasta is getting ready, roughly chop the bacon (not maple cured!) and Italian flat parsley and grate the Parmesan cheese.
3. Heat olive oil in a small pan and cook the bacon until cooked but not yet crisp.
4. After you have drained the pasta, return it to the dry pot and put it back on the stove.
5. Add the bacon and oil and about a tablespoon of the cooking liquid.
6. Crack two eggs into the pasta and stir like crazy so that the eggs form a silky sauce and don’t become blobs of scrambled egg.
7. Add half the Parmesan cheese and the parsley and stir more. If it seems too dry, add some more of the cooking liquid.
8. Grind some black pepper into the pot.
9. Stir and serve!

Italian Meatballs 

Joseph Vasti, Director of Operations

Number of Servings: 4

Directions 

1. Using a large bowl, beat the egg while adding milk.
2. Form a well and add ground beef, then mix all together well.
3. Obtain a large non-stick cookie sheet and spray lightly with oil.
4. Get another small bowl and fill with some cold water to wet your hands.
5. Using a table spoon, gather enough of the meatball mixture to form 1 and ½ inch meatballs in your damp hands and place on the cookie sheet. You should have enough mixture to make 15-18 meatballs.
6. Place the tray of meatballs under the broiler (not too close) in your oven and watch them until lightly browned. This should take about 8-10 minutes or less depending on your oven.
7. Then, remove the tray and gently turn them over with a spoon to brown the opposite side. Meanwhile, add the two 28-ounce cans of crushed tomatoes to a large pot and heat to a simmer.
8. Let the meatballs rest after broiling them and use a small plate to tilt the cookie sheet slightly to allow fat/oils to move to one side.
9. As soon as the tomato sauce is simmering, add the meatballs and cook for about a half hour to 45 minutes, gently stirring to avoid breaking.
10. Prepare your favorite 1-pound box of pasta and drain well. Serve the meatballs separately or over the pasta.

Healthy Scones 

Laura Newmark, Director of LABA/Culture Producer

Number of Servings: 4

Directions

1. Mix ingredients together with a wooden spoon in a bowl.
2. Dole out 4 scone-like shapes on a cooking sheet lined with parchment paper.
3. Cook at 400 degrees for 25 minutes.
4. Cool on rack.
5. Enjoy.

We hope you have fun trying out these recipes at home! Check our blog regularly for more recipes from the 14Y staff!