Italian-style meatballs made with bread soaked in milk, Parmesan, and parsley.

Ingredients

Meatballs:

• 1 cup plain bread crumbs
• 1 cup grated Romano cheese
• 3 cloves of garlic, minced
• 2 tsp dried parsley flakes
• 1 lb ground chuck hamburger
• Salt and pepper
• 4 eggs, beaten till foamy
• Approx. 1/2 cup water
• Olive oil for browning

Effie’s sauce:

• 1 jar of favorite spaghetti sauce
• 1 small can tomato paste
• 1/2 jar of water to clean out the jar
• Salt and pepper
• 1 teaspoon sugar

Steps

1. Make sauce before meatballs by combining spaghetti sauce, tomato paste, and water.
2. Season with salt, pepper, and 1 teaspoon sugar, then simmer on low for 1 hour.
3. Mix the crumbs, cheese, garlic and parsley flakes in a bowl.
4. Season hamburger with salt and pepper and add to crumb mixture, mixing until finely crumbled.
5. Add beaten eggs to meat mixture, gently rubbing to combine.
6. Add water to mixture until slightly mushy consistency (approx. 1/2 cup water).
7. Toss meat mixture from hand to hand to form ball.
8. Heat up skillet on medium heat with olive oil (1/4 inch deep) and brown meatballs, turning until all sides are browned.
9. Put meatballs into warmed tomato sauce and add oil from skillet after browning meatballs to sauce as well.
10. Cover and simmer on low for 1 hour, stirring occasionally.

Notes

• Roughness makes hard balls, so handle gently when forming.