Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • ¾ cup chopped onion
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 (16 ounce) cans crushed tomatoes
  • 3 (6 ounce) cans tomato paste
  • 1 cup water
  • ½ cup sugar
  • ¼ cup chopped fresh oregano, divided
  • 1 dried bay leaf
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 pound ground round
  • ½ cup Italian seasoned bread crumbs
  • ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
  • 2 eggs, lightly beaten
  • ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 (16 ounce) package uncooked spaghetti
Directions
  1. Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat, and cook the onion until lightly brown. Mix in 2 cloves garlic, and cook 1 minute. Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, water, sugar, 1/2 the oregano, and bay leaf. Season with salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, and simmer while preparing meatballs.

  2. In a bowl, mix the ground round, bread crumbs, remaining oregano, remaining garlic, parsley, eggs, and cheese. Season with salt and pepper. Roll into 1 inch balls, and drop into the sauce. Cook 40 minutes in the sauce, or until internal temperature of meatballs reaches a minimum of 160 degrees F (72 degrees C).

  3. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil, and stir in the spaghetti. Cook 8 to 10 minutes, until al dente, and drain. Serve the meatballs and sauce over the cooked spaghetti.