Spaghetti and Meatballs

I made this for date night in with my boyfriend and we both loved it! I got the meatball recipe from Anne Burell and the marinara sauce is one that I made with a friend. The sauce is great for any Italian dish and is also vegetarian! Caution: This makes a lot. I froze half of it for later.


Meatballs
Olive Oil

1 large onion, thinly diced                                                  
Salt
3 teaspoons minced garlic (about 2-3 cloves)
Pinch red pepper flakes
3/4 lb ground sirloin
3/4 lb Italian sausage
2 large eggs
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup chopped fresh Italian parsley leaves
1 cup Italian breadcrumbs
1/2 cup water
Sprinkle of Italian seasoning


Coat a large saute pan with olive oil, add the onions and bring to medium-high heat. Season the onions generously with salt and cook for about 5-7 minutes. The onions should be very soft and have no color. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes and saute for another 1-2 minutes. Turn off heat and allow to cool.


In a large bowl combine meats, eggs, cheese, parsley and bread crumbs. Squish the mixture with your hands. Add the onion mixture and season generously with salt and squish some more. Add the water and squish again. The mixture should be pretty watery. 


Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.


Shape the meat into desired size. Mine were about golf ball size. Coat a large saute pan with olive oil and bring to medium-high heat. Brown the meatballs on all sides. Place them on a cookie sheet and bake them for about 15 minutes or until cooked all the way through. If using right away, add them to your marinara sauce. Serve with pasta.


Sarah and Elaine's Marinara Sauce
1 jar Classico Spicy Tomato and Basil marinara sauce
~20 fresh basil leaves
1/4 cup + 2 Tbsp. Olive Oil
1/2 large onion, chopped
1 can Italian diced tomatoes, undrained
1 cup white wine
2 Tbsp. minced garlic
1 Tbsp. Italian seasoning
1 tsp oregano leaves
Salt and Pepper, to taste


In a large sauce pan, saute onions in 2 Tbsp. of olive oil until translucent. Add garlic and cook about 2 minutes. Add the rest of the ingredients and let simmer on low heat for at least one hour. 


Serve with any type of pasta. I made mine with angel hair.