This week starts a new series on Sugar & Butter!

It’s football season.

Ladies, you know this because your man has disappeared into the makeshift football arena otherwise known as the living room, not to emerge on any given Saturday or Sunday for the next four months. You know it’s the living room, but they…they truly believe in their minds and hearts that they are sitting two rows up from the 50 yard line. I’m not sure how, but their ability to create such fantasies is fascinating. And weird. 

However, we love them. To support them during football season and during, let’s face it, the most exhausting of all the sports (all that cheering makes them famished, honestly), I’ve developed this recipe series:: Fantasy Football Food. Named in part for the league that probably half of our men are participating in online (if you have no clue what I’m saying, count your blessings) and for the dreams that come true during football season, I’ll focus on great manly game day food. And yes, you’ll enjoy this stuff too. That’s a promise. While I can’t guarantee that your man’s team will win, resulting in unparalleled joy and a desire to do whatever chore you need him to do with pleasure, I can guarantee that I will guide you safely through the season with a different recipe every week. 

These Italian Meatball Heroes are pretty easy to make but really messy. Real plates are necessary as are double napkins. And make sure you let him know that eating these requires two hands so drop that remote. Pretty please. 

Makes 4 sandwiches

Ingredients:: 

• 1 pound spicy or sweet Italian sausages, casings removed
• 1 (23- to 24-ounce) container purchased fresh marinara sauce, divided
• 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese (about 1 1/2 ounces)
• 1/3 cup chopped fresh Italian parsley, divided
• 1/3 cup chopped fresh basil, divided
• 4 (5- to 6-inch-long) pieces French baguette, split horizontally
• 1 cup (packed) coarsely grated whole-milk mozzarella cheese

Directions:: 

1. Preheat oven to 400°F. Mix sausage, 1/2 cup marinara, Parmesan, 2 tablespoons parsley, and 2 tablespoons basil in large bowl. Using wet hands, shape mixture into 8 meatballs. Bring 2 tablespoons parsley, 2 tablespoons basil, remaining marinara, and meatballs to boil in large skillet. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer until meatballs are cooked through, turning often, about 20 minutes.
2. Place baguette bottoms on baking sheet; spread each with about 2 tablespoons sauce from skillet. Cut meatballs in half in skillet; overlap 4 halves on each baguette bottom. Spoon remaining sauce over meatballs, then sprinkle mozzarella over, dividing equally. Bake until cheese melts, about 5 minutes. Sprinkle with remaining parsley and basil and cover with baguette tops.