Rachel Rays Speghetti and Meatballs

Spaghetti and Meatballs

We got this from a Rachel ray cookbook and we love it. The sauce has a kick ( to much for my kids but the hubby and I love it), so sometimes I just make the meatballs and then use with regular sauce!!

** I really like to put any of my spaghetti sauces in the crock pot for a few hours to let simmer. And if I am making meatballs with it I will make them an hour or 2 before dinner and throw them in the sauce in the crock pot. This really bring out the flavors it the sauce, try it, it is so yummy :)


Salt, for pasta water
Meatballs: 1 pound spaghetti

1 1/4 pounds ground sirloin
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce, eyeball it
1 egg, beaten
1/2 cup Italian bread crumbs, a couple of handfuls
1/4 cup grated Parmesan, Parmigiano-Reggiano or Romano cheese
2 cloves garlic, chopped
Salt and pepper
*** I have this thing with touching raw hamburger, don't like it at all, so I dump all my ingredients in to my kitchen aid and turn it on for a few minutes to mix it together. Then I use my cookie scoop to make the meatballs!! This way I avoid any touching. ***

Sauce:
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, 2 turns of the pan
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
4 cloves garlic, crushed or chopped
1 small onion, finely chopped
1 cup beef stock, available on soup aisle in market in small paper boxes
1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
A handful chopped flat-leaf parsley
10 leaves fresh basil leaves, torn or thinly sliced



Preheat oven to 425 degrees .
Place a large pot of water on to boil for spaghetti. When it boils, add salt and pasta and cook to
al dente.

Meatballs-
Mix beef and Worcestershire, egg, bread crumbs, cheese, garlic, salt and pepper. Roll meat into 1 1/2 inch medium-sized meatballs and place on nonstick cookie sheet or a cookie sheet greased with extra-virgin olive oil. Bake balls 10 to 12 minutes, until no longer pink.

Sauce-
add oil to pan, then add your garlic and onions. Saute till onions are translucent. Add rest of ingredients and simmer till ready to serve. Once the meatballs are cooked you can add them to your sauce and let them simmer with the sauce to give your sauce the beefy flavor!!