Meatballs and Sauce

Ingredients

• 5 ounces chopped frozen spinach – thawed and drained
• ½ pound ground pork
• ½ pound ground beef
• ½ pound ground veal
• 1 egg
• ½ cup of grated “cheese” topping
• ½ cup plain panko style breadcrumbs
• ½ cup Italian flavored panko breadcrumbs
• 2 tablespoons parsley
• 2 teaspoons salt
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes

Directions

In a large mixing bowl, combine ingredients. Using your hands, mix until well incorporated. Using your hands, shape the meatballs into rounds, and place the meatballs on a lined cookie tray. Bake for 20 minutes at 400 degrees or until golden and cooked through.

While the meatballs are baking, you can make the sauce

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 yellow onion – chopped
• 1 ½ teaspoons minced garlic
• ½ cup red wine
• 1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
• 1 tablespoon parsley
• 1 ½  teaspoons salt
• ½  teaspoon ground black pepper

Directions

Heat the olive oil in a large sauce pan. Add the onion and saute over medium heat until translucent, 5 to 10 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 1 more minute. Add the wine and cook on high heat, scraping up all the brown bits in the pan, until almost all the liquid evaporates, about 3 minutes. Stir in the tomatoes, parsley, salt, and pepper.

Gently place the meatballs in the sauce, half cover, and simmer on the lowest heat, stirring occasionally, for 2 to 3 hours, until the meatballs are cooked through and the flavors meld.