Grandma's Homemade Italian Sauce and Meatballs

Ingredients

• 1 pound ground beef
• 1/2 cup bread crumbs
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 (28 ounce) cans crushed tomatoes
• 1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
• 2 teaspoons dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon salt

Directions

1. In a large bowl, mix together the ground beef, bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, parsley, 2 cloves minced garlic, 1 teaspoon oregano, salt and pepper.
2. Form the mixture into 1-inch balls and set aside.
3. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and 2 cloves minced garlic and cook until the onion is tender.
4. Add the crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, oregano, basil, pepper and salt. Simmer for 30 minutes.
5. Add the meatballs to the sauce and simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
6. Serve over your favorite pasta.

Interesting Facts

• Grandma's Homemade Italian Sauce and Meatballs is a classic Italian dish that has been passed down for generations.
• The secret to a great meatball is to not overwork the meat when forming the balls.
• Crushed tomatoes are typically used in Italian sauces because they provide a smoother texture than diced tomatoes.