Spaghetti with Meatballs

My boy has been bugging me to make spaghetti meatballs when he saw Rachel Ray doing it on TV. What media can do to our kids? At any rate, I finally gave in this week since we do not have a maid, I am forced to prepare each and every meal every day.  No, I am not complaining, I actually love the idea. What I don’t like is that my family (especially hubs) and I tend to eat a lot every time I cook. So much for dieting, huh?

Inspired by Rachel Ray’s recipe, just made a little twist with what’s available on my stash of ingredients.

INGREDIENTS:

1/4 cup plain bread crumbs
1/2 cup milk or water
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
3 garlic cloves, 2 smashed and 1 chopped
1 can crushed tomatoes
2 packs 250grams Tomato Sauce
Salt
500grams lean ground sirloin
2 tablespoons chopped flat-leaf parsley
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
1 large egg
4 ounces mozzarella cheese, cut into 20 (1/2-inch) cubes
500 grams spaghetti

DIRECTIONS:

1. Cook the pasta as directed making sure its al dente and season with enough salt.
2. Soak the bread crumbs in milk in a medium bowl.
3. In a large pan, heat the olive oil over medium heat and add the smashed garlic and cook about 2 minutes or until golden brown.  Stir in the tomatoes and tomato sauce, add salt and season to taste. Let the sauce simmer over low heat, stirring occasionally.
4. In a large bowl, combine the beef, chopped garlic, parsley, Parmigiano-Reggiano, egg and 1 teaspoon of salt and the soaked bread crumbs and stir with a fork until combined.
5. Roll about 2 tablespoons of the mixture in your hand and press a mozzarella cube into the center. Forming a ball, shape the meat around the cheese. Repeat with the remaining beef mixture and mozzarella.
6. Continue stirring the sauce and raise the heat to medium- low.  Place the meatballs carefully in the sauce, submerging them completely. Simmer the sauce simmer and cook without stirring for 20 minutes.
7. Toss the pasta and with the sauce and meatballs and sprinkle with parmesan cheese and serve.

I’m sure your whole family will love it especially the kids.