Spaghetti & Meatballs...

[mertzy]

Haven't made it in years...making the meatballs...probably buying the sauce.....suggestions....recipes??

[Lumpy]

Breadcrumbs in the meatballs. That's the secret to juicy meatballs.

I've only made gravy from canned tomatoes, never from fresh. I usually say fuck it, and doctor up a jarred sauce. Sometimes I don't even doctor it. I don't spend a whole day cooking too often, and if I do, it's something else, not pasta sauce.

[mortlock]

get some plain jarred sauce..barilla is good stuff. get the barilla tomato and basil. simmer it on the stove.
the secret is in the meatballs..first get good meatballs made with pork beef and veal..mix with bread crumbs like lumpy said..id recommend seasoned breadcrumbs. brown them in olive oil..dump entire contents of frying pan into sauce..simmer..

[Lumpy]

In Goodfellas, they would slice the garlic paper-thin with a razor blade, so it would totally blend into the sauce (when they all went to prison). You've got time for that, right?

[mortlock]

i wish i did..

[mortlock]

[MichaelZodiac]

Mix minced meat is indeed better. I usually do 1 raw egg with the meat and then I add the breadcrumbs until it's drier (how much depends on the meat and personal preference, blabla). Do this in a large mixing bowl, add spices (salt and pepper are a given, experiment with others) and mix with your hands. No machine BS.

We have Barilla sauce here in Europe, I use that too but use a couple of fresh tomatoes as well. As of course onions, garlic, parsley (at the end) and again whatever you would like in terms of spices.

[Demon Lung]

This whole thread should be a crime

[MichaelZodiac]

I don't get the spaghetti part though? If you want to use spaghetti, make a bolognese sauce. Meatballs with fries or potatoes is a winner.

[Demon Lung]

If you want to use spaghetti, make a bolognese sauce.

words of wisdom. It's really isn't difficult at all. You could let it cook for 2 hours while you sit on your couch and it will taste better and be better for you than the prepared crap in a can

[I,Galactus]

http://riffrocklives.com/forum/index.php?topic=4644.msg176122#msg176122

There's a recipe over there with instructions to modify it for the slow cooker.  I've enjoyed this preparation several times since then.  Leftover meatball sandwiches on garlic bread is where it's at.

[yeezuz]

i've never made meat balls before, would they still be tasty if i made them from a meat mix with no beef or veal? i guess pork and turkey could do the trick.

[I,Galactus]

Straight turkey would be too dry, but the pork should help it stick it together if you keep it 50/50.

Italian sausage would work well too.

[Demon Lung]

i've never made meat balls before, would they still be tasty if i made them from a meat mix with no beef or veal? i guess pork and turkey could do the trick.

real meatballs have the mix

[yeezuz]

gonna have to try this

[Lumpy]

You're not supposed to over-work your meatballs (or meatloaf, or hamburger). Just handle them the minimum amount you can get away with (if you knead the heck out of them, they get tougher).

If they are going to take a beating, you might want them a little tough...

[Chovie D]

grandma Circelli would throw in a rack of ribs and some sausages into the pot of sauce along with the meatballs, let it cook in the sauce till the meat falls off the bones. lots of wine.

[mertzy]

I ended up making this....HEAVEN!

http://www.williams-sonoma.com/recipe/easy-spaghetti-bolognese.html

[mortlock]

ive never had it, but it sounds amazing, and complicated to make..

[mertzy]

It was easier than I thought...so worth it!