Mama Anna's

Tomato Sauce with

Sausage and Meatballs

Every Sunday  she would make, her tomato sauce, with meatballs, and sausage. Some of the meatballs she would not put in to the sauce, for some of us kids, wanted them plain (I won't say who)

Every Sunday, at Mom's and Dad's was an Italian Feast.  Even durning the holidays, she would make the Turkey, or Ham, but there was always that extra course of Pasta!

Even  when she had to be in a wheelchair, I would come over for my Sunday visit and to of course enjoy her Pasta.  I would walk into the kitchen, and there was Mom in her wheelchair, at the stove, stirring the sauce.  That image will always be with me forever, her strength was endless, nothing stop her from taking care of her family. 

The secret was to brown the meatballs and sausages until, they were nicely browned, than put them in the sauce, with is now simmering on the stove- than, deglaze the pan with RED WINE, stirring to release all the favors left from the meats, than add it to 

the sauce. 

Moms Tomato Sauce:

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 cans of Crushed Tomato's ( net 28 oz)

1 can of Crushed Tomato with Puree ( 28 oz net) 

3 cloves of garlic, minced

1 teaspoons dried parsley

3 teaspoons dried basil

3 teaspoons dried oregano

1 teaspoons Red Pepper flakes

1 1/2 cups of Italian Red Wine (divided)

Salt and Black pepper to taste

In a Large Sauce pan, heat the olive oil over medium high heat, add the garlic, and stir for a 20 seconds, add all the 3 cans of tomato's. Then add all the spices, except the Salt and Pepper- bring to a simmer, add the remaining 3/4 cup of Red Wine, and the browned meats and simmer for 1 1/2 hours on low heat. Add the salt and pepper to your taste.

( If you want, add about 1 cup of water to one can of the tomato's stir, then pour into the other 2 cans, you can use this to thin out the sauce.

For the Meats:

Meatballs

1 1/2 pounds of ground beef

1 small onion, finely chopped

1 large egg.

4 tablespoons of Italian Flavored Bread Crumbs

1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder

1/2 teaspoon Red Pepper flakes

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1/2 teaspoon each of dried, Oregano, Basil, and parsley 

In a large mixing bowl, add the meat, egg, breadcrumbs and spices.

Using your hands, thoroughly mix all the ingredients until everything is well combined.  Then, shape each meatball into a Golf balls size. ( or bigger or smaller, your choice)

Sausage 

1/2 pound sweet Italian sausage

1/2 pound Hot Italian sausage 

Method: In a large sauté pan, add two tablespoon of olive oil and heat over moderate high heat.  Add the meatballs, in batches, and cook until, they are completely brown ; remove from the pan, unto a paper towel dish. Add to the Tomato Sauce

Add the sausages, piercing them with a fork as they get brown, continue until the sausages are totally brown; add them to the sauce

Turn the heat up, and deglaze the pan with 3/4 cup of the red wine, getting all the brown bits, then add the wine mixture to the Tomato Sauce.

Finishing the Sauce 

Simmer the sauce with the meats, for a least 1 1/2 hours, stirring often.  Then Enjoy with your favorite Pasta.

Dedicated to my Loving Mother

Anna