Spaghetti and Meatballs

I have always loved spaghetti and meat sauce the way my Mother made it at home was the best!! But I really like to make meatballs too and so I do a couple of times a year.  Basically depending on what you have or what is available you need a pound of ground meat.  This can be 1/3 beef, pork, and veal or half and half of two of the named meats or all beef.  This time I used the all three combination.

1/4 C. milk
4 slices day old bread crusts removed and torn into small pieces
1/3 pound ground beef, pork, and veal or some combination thereof
1 egg
1/3 C. Parmesan Cheese grated
3 T. fresh Parsley plus more for garnish if desired
(1 1/2 T. if using dried herb)
1 t. kosher salt
1/2 t. black pepper
2 t. fresh oregano
(1 T. if using dry)
2 cloves fresh garlic minced
pinch of red pepper
olive oil for frying

Soak  the bread in the milk in the bottom of a mixing bowl for a few minutes until the milk is absorbed.

Combine the rest of the ingredients with your hands and mix until well blended and form into 2" meatballs.  Use enough oil to coat the bottom of a heavy skillet and brown the meatballs.  It should take about 10 15 minutes to finish them all.

You can then drop them into a store bought sauce of your liking or make a sauce.  An easy one is to combine in a deep pan 2 or 3 T. olive oil with a large chopped onion and 3-4 cloves chopped garlic and saute for a minute or two and add a 28 oz. can of crushed Italian tomatoes or a quart of home canned tomatoes you can stir to crush.  Add about 3 T. *tomato paste.  If you have fresh basil tear about a half cup of the leaves and add.  Use much less if using dry and taste till you get it right.  Salt and pepper to taste.  I don't like oregano very well so I use it rarely.  You can use it here if you like it.  At any rate simmer this on very low heat with the meatballs for as long as you like and fill your house with that welcoming smell everyone will love!!

*If you see it or can find it purchasing tomato paste in the tube keeps much better and is much handier than messing with the can as must recipes call for less than a can,  The tube keep really well in the refrigerator.