Recipes

Meatballs

1 pound ground beef

1 cup breadcrumbs

1/2 onion, very finely chopped or grated

1 clove garlic, minced or crushed

1 tablespoon chopped parsley

1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan

1 egg

1 tablespoon olive oil

1/2 teaspoon salt 

freshly ground pepper

Pinch nutmeg

Vegetable oil for frying

Set aside 1/2 cup breadcrumbs and vegetable oil. 

Combine all other ingredients with clean hands, shaping into large balls. Serve with tomato sauce poured over on pasta or on their own, topped with freshly grated parmesan or pecorino if you have it. 

Butter Tomato Sauce

3-4 fresh ripe tomatoes, diced, or 1 jar passata (or a large tin of pureed tomatoes)

1/2 cup butter

Pinch salt

One onion, peeled and cut only in half. 

Combine all ingredients and simmer over low-med heat for at least 40 minutes. Discard onion before serving. 

Red Wine Tomato Sauce

3-4 fresh ripe tomatoes, diced, or 1 jar passata (or 1 large tin of pureed tomatoes)

1 onion, chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

2 T olive oil

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/3 cup red wine

1/2 tablespoon sugar

2 tablespoons fresh basil, chopped

Combine olive oil, onion, and salt in saucepan over low-med heat. Cook until soft. Add garlic, cook 1 min more, taking care not to burn. Add all remaining ingredients except basil and simmer on low heat at least one hour. Add basil and simmer a few minutes more.