Ingredients for Meatballs :

1 ½ lbs. ground beef, or combination beef, veal, and pork
1 egg
Salt and pepper
¾ c. onion, chopped fine or equivalent dried onion flakes
2 T. parsley, dried or fresh
½ c. grated parmesan cheese (optional)
1½ T. Worcestershire sauce
1 T. minced garlic
½ t. garlic powder
1 t. Italian seasoning
Bread crumbs, plain or seasoned

Directions for Meatballs:

Place meat in medium sized bowl, add salt and pepper to taste, onion, parsley, parmesan cheese, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning. Mix well. Add enough bread crumbs to make mixture stick together firmly when pressed in palm of hand. If too dry, you can add a little milk until mixture is the right consistency. Shape into balls.

Brown meatballs in large skillet in a mixture of half olive oil and half vegetable oil. Turn often during browning. Do not cook through. Remove from skillet as soon as browned and set aside. Do not rinse pan.

Ingredients for Sauce:

6 T. olive oil
1 c. finely chopped onion
1½ t. minced garlic or 4 fresh cloves, crushed
½ c. red wine, cooking or table
28 oz. canned tomatoes, crushed
3 cans tomato paste
1 can tomato sauce
2 c. water
¼ c. fresh oregano, or 1 T. dried
2 bay leaves
2 T. sugar
1 T. parsley
1 t. basil
Salt and pepper

Directions for Sauce and Finishing:

Drain most of the oil out of the pan that was used to cook the meatballs. Don’t scrape pan or wipe out.

Add olive oil and onion. Saute the onion for about 3-6 minutes or until it is translucent. Add garlic and cook another minute. Add red wine and raise heat slightly. Scrape pan to loosen any browned particles of meat – and cook until nearly all liquid evaporates--about 5 minutes. Lower heat to normal. Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, and water. Mix well. Add remaining ingredients and stir.

Return meatballs to the pan, spoon sauce over them. Bring to boil, then lower heat and simmer for 35 minutes, stirring gently from time to time.

Cook spaghetti or vermicelli, drain and toss with 2 T. butter. Serve sauce over pasta and pass the parmesan.