Spaghetti and Meatballs, Now That's Italian!

Spaghetti and Meatballs, Now That's Italian!

Ingredients:

"All Time Favorite Tomato Sauce" (recipe post, April 2012)

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
4 rounded teaspoons minced garlic
2 - 28 oz can crushed tomatoes w/ puree
1 - 15 oz can tomato sauce
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 crushed red pepper flakes
2 to 3 tablespoons Italian seasoning

Meatballs
1 lb ground beef
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
2 eggs
1/2 cup bread crumbs (Italian bread crumbs of course)
2 tablespoons Italian seasoning
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 tablespoon minced garlic
2 - 4 tablespoons olive oil (for frying meatballs)

Spaghetti
1 lb box spaghetti

Directions:

Step 1

Prepare the "All Time Favorite Tomato Sauce" (see recipe post, April 2012)

http://crowdedkitchen509.blogspot.com/2012/04/all-time-favorite-tomato-sauce.html

All Time Favorite Tomato Sauce

Step 2

While the Tomato Sauce is cooking, prepare the meatballs.  Mix together the ingredients (ground beef through minced garlic).  The olive oil is used for frying the meatballs.

Form meat into 2-inch balls.

Heat the olive oil in large frying pan (If the oil is not hot enough, the meatballs will stick).  Slightly cook and brown the meatballs (be careful not to fully cook the insides of the meatballs).  Use a spatula to gently lift and turn over the meatballs.

Transfer the meatballs to the sauce pot and bring to a boil. 

Cover and simmer for 1 hour, or more.  Stirring freguently.  I personally simmer the tomato sauce for 2 to 3 hours.  Here's another hint, . . . make the tomato sauce and meatballs one day ahead of planned dinner.  The sauce is always better the next day and all the hard work is already done!

Step 3

Prepare spaghetti, as directed on package. 

Step 4

Pour the delicious tomato and meatball sauce over the spaghetti, and serve with a salad and bread.  Enjoy!