Cheesy Garlic Bread Meatball Rolls

I made some meatballs for my mom and I was not happy with how they turned out.

She wanted them cooked, no sauce, 

and then frozen individually so she can take just a few at a time.

Food stores sell them this way but she has not been able to find the ones she likes.

I thought homemade would be good, mine are usually delicious, but this time they weren't.

I gave her only a few, bought her a bag at the food store and kept the rest.

This is what I did with the ones I kept and they were so fun to make and I thought delicious.

Having the sauce, seasonings and cheese around them made all of the difference.

The ingredients, I had sauce frozen in the freezer that I defrosted.

I did not need nearly that much.

I cut squares in the top of the rolls and removed just enough bread to accommodate a meatball...

I brushed them with melted butter mixed with garlic powder.

The recipe calls for fresh garlic but the hubs is not a fan.

I toasted them in the oven for just a few minutes, 

so the sauce would not seep through and make the bread soggy.

This was a tip I read in the recipe and I am glad I did not skip this step.

Once they are toasted and slightly golden brown, in went some fresh mozzarella,

a  tablespoon of tomato sauce, a meatball, more sauce, more cheese and some italian seasoning.

I also added some parmesan cheese on top just because I had some already grated in the frig.

I loaded the top with mozzarella cheese and cooked them for 15 minutes in a 350 degree oven.

Out of the oven, this mozzarella cheese melted nicely.

We each had three and that was plenty with a side salad and chips.

- the secret ingredient is always cheese -