“Eating in Italy is essentially a family art, practiced for and by the family. The finest accomplishments of the home cook are not reserved like the good silver and china for special occasions or for impressing guests, but are offered daily for the pleasure and happiness of the family group.” ~Marcella Hazan

I’ve always associated Italian food with bringing family together at the dinner table, giving them the opportunity to share their day and reconnect with one another. It sounds like such a simple concept, but one that’s widely overlooked. As technology continues to make our lives more convenient, it’s also making it easier for us to become more isolated, to live within the confines of our metal handheld boxes. Somehow though, Italian food is always able to bring people together, whether it be at a family dinner or large social settings. And I think that’s why Italian food has always held a place in my heart (that and I’m part Italian, so I was raised on a ton of Italian food).

This meatball and tomato sauce is a versatile recipe that can go with noodles for a savory dinner, or it can be served on toothpicks for a quick and easy party dish.

Ingredients

Meatballs
1 pound lean ground beef
1 pound ground pork
2 eggs
1 cup gluten free breadcrumbs
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon ground pepper
6 basil leaves
1 yellow onion
4 cloves garlic
Tomato Sauce
30 oz tomato sauce
15 oz diced tomato
1/4 cup tomato paste
1 1/2 tbsp minced garlic
1/2 yellow onion, diced
1/4 lb mushrooms, diced
1 tbsp thyme
1/2 tbsp oregano
1/2 tbsp basil
shredded mozzarella for garnish

Instructions

1.Preheat oven to 350 F.
2.In a large bowl, combine the beef, pork, eggs, breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, pepper, and salt.
3.Finely chop the basil and add it to the bowl.
4.Heat a skillet over medium low heat. Finely chop the onion and garlic and cook in the pan for about 5 minutes, until the onions are tender. Add the onions and garlic to the bowl. Clean the pan and place back on the heat.
5.Mix the meat together, and form small meatballs. Add the meatballs to the pan, and brown the outside of the balls. Once the balls are browned, transfer to a baking sheet, and bake in the oven for 15 minutes. Remove the meatballs from the oven.
6.In a large saucepan, add the sauce, tomato, and paste. Stir together and heat over medium heat.
7.In a small pan over medium heat, saute the garlic and onion with 2 tsp olive oil for about 5 minutes, or until the onions are slightly translucent. Add the mushrooms and cook for another 3 minutes. Add the onion mix the the sauce, along with the thyme, oregano, and basil.
8.Reduce the heat to low, and simmer for 30 minutes.
9.Turn the oven on broil. Pour sauce over the meatballs, and sprinkle with cheese. Bake in the oven for about 3-5 minutes, just until the cheese starts to brown. Place on toothpicks and serve!