Dad's Spaghetti & Meatballs

Driving 23 (!!) hours across the country builds a massive appetite. Luckily, we were driving to a home full of epicures. My dad greeted us with a huge pot of my childhood favorite: home-made spaghetti, meatballs, and Italian sausage. Classic.

Meatballs
1 lb. ground beef
1 c. bread crumbs
1 c. grated parmesan
1 tbsp. fresh basil
1 tsp. dried oregano
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 eggs

*Optional: For a larger crowd, add Italian Sausage sliced diagonally and browned in a 450F oven for 10 - 15 minutes. Add to the marinara with the meatballs.
In a large mixing bowl, combine all ingredients with your hands and roll into 1 1/2" balls. Put the balls on a cookie sheet drizzled in olive oil and roast in a 450F oven for appx. 15 - 20 minutes. Add to marinara sauce and cook over low heat for an hour or two.

Marinara Sauce
2 28 oz. cans of tomato sauce
1/2 white onion, diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 green bell pepper
1 tsp. basil
1/2 tsp. oregano
salt to taste
pepper to taste

While the meatballs are browning in the oven saute onions and bell pepper until soft in a 5.5 qt. (or larger) dutch oven. Add the garlic and herbs, saute another minute longer. Add the tomato sauce and simmer over low heat. When the meatballs come out of the oven add them to the sauce and cook over low heat for an hour or longer.
Boil your favorite pasta and top with meatballs, marinara, and freshly grated or shaved parmesan cheese.