Spagetti, Meatballs and Garlic Knots

This is my daughter's version of a "beauty plate for your blog."  Love it!  My husband appreciates this meal because it involves beef and it has pasta so my daughter will eat it.  Oh how i love working all day and then trying to make something that no one is complaining about!. This recipe serves 4.

Ingredients:

1 lb lean ground beef

1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese

1/2 cup panko bread crumbs

1/2 tsp onion powder (or to taste)

1/2 tsp garlic powder (or to taste)

1/2 tsp salt (or to taste)

1 egg lightly beaten

26 ounces spaghetti sauce of your choosing

1/2 lb pasta of your choosing

Store bought or homemade pizza dough (enough for 1 pie)

3 garlic cloves finely minced

Olive oil

Parmesan cheese

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Place ground beef in bowl and sprinkle on top parmesan, bread crumbs, onion and garlic powder.  Add egg and mix lightly until just combined.  overworking the meat will make for very tough meatballs.  Roll onto 1 1/2 inch balls and place on a baking sheet.  Bake for 30 minutes or until tops are lightly browned. Place a large pot on the stove filled 3/4 of the way with water and begin to bring to a boil.  Immediately salt and reduce heat if you are not ready to stop the pasta.

Place pizza dough on a lightly floured surface and stretch to a long approximately 4 inch wide by 1/2 inch thick block.  Cut dough lengthwise and then section into 3/4 inch wide strips.  Take each strip and roll lightly then tie into a know.  Place on a baking sheet and allow to rise.  Once meatballs are out of the oven, increase heat to 425 and bake knots for 20 minutes or until golden brown.

Once meatballs have browned slightly, add them and all accumulated juices to a pot on the stovetop and pour sauce over.  Bring to a light boil and reduce to simmer for 20 to 30 minutes.  Approximately 10 minutes before meatballs are complete make sure water is at a full boil, drop your pasta.  Cook and drain according to package instructions.  Add to sauce with meatballs and this is ready to serve.  

Once knots have browned, immediately remove from the oven, place in a large bowl.  WHile still hot sprinkle minced garlic and coat liberally with olive oil.  Top with parmesan cheese to taste and toss to serve.  Meal goes great with a simple italian style salad.

Note on pasta: this recipe will go well with any type of long pasta type.  Mix it up try linguine, fusilli, angel hair, what ever you like.

Note on pasta sauce: Homemade pasta sauce is easy to make if you have time if you don't, look for a great jarred sauce.  The better sauces are expensive for good reason.  The only ingredients in a jarred sauce should be ingredients you would add to your own pot such as tomatoes (not puree), onions, garlic, basil, carrots, celery, olive oil, pepper and salt.  NO SUGAR or preservative should be on that list.

I sometimes call this anytime pasta because I will switch out the meat and vegetables based on what I have on hand.  This was a favorite when I was in college and is one my daughter will ask for thirds on!