Spaghetti with Sun-Dried Tomato Meatballs & Spicy Sausage

What better way to round out a laxed Sunday of wandering through the farmer's market, lounging in the sun, & reading than with a meal of hearty spaghetti & meatballs? Armed with our bounty from the market, we minced & chopped our way to a simple classic meal.  I know I've confessed my love of this dish before, but I couldn't resist revisiting it. Always the crowd pleaser, who doesn't count spaghetti & meatballs among their favorites? 

A healthy dose of sun dried tomatoes & basil make these meatballs stand out from the archetypical version.  Pair them with spicy or sweet Italian sausage for an even more robust meal.  Said to be the "holy trinity" of most cuisines (Italian, French, Spanish, Cajun, even American), an ever essential Mirepoix (a simple 2:1:1 combination of onion, celery, & carrot) flavors the marinara. You can't go wrong with the standards. Top it all with salty parmigiano reggiano & eat up!

Sun Dried Tomato Meatballs
1 lb. ground beef
1/2 c. sun-dried tomatoes, coarsely chopped
1 c. bread crumbs
1 c. grated parmesan

1 tbsp. fresh basil, minced
1 tsp. dried oregano

4 cloves garlic, minced
2 eggs

6 Italian sausage links (spicy or sweet), optional

In a large mixing bowl, combine all ingredients with your hands and roll into 1 1/2" balls. Put the balls & sausage on a lined cookie sheet drizzled in olive oil and roast in a 450F oven for appx. 15 - 20 minutes. Slice the sausages after they come out of the oven (this helps keep hem moist). Add both to marinara sauce and cook over low heat for an hour or two.

Laura's Marinara Sauce

2 28 oz. cans of tomato sauce
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 yellow onion,chopped
2 - 3 stalks celery, chopped
2 - 3 carrots, chopped

1 tsp. fresh basil
1/2 tsp. dried oregano

1/2 c. red wine

salt to taste

pepper to taste

While the meatballs are browning in the oven saute onion, celery, & carrots until soft in a 5.5 qt. (or larger) dutch oven. Add the garlic & herbs, saute another minute longer. Add the tomato sauce & wine simmer over low heat. When the meatballs come out of the oven add them to the sauce & cook over low heat for an hour or longer.