Rollin' Nonna Spaghetti & Meatballs

People have been asking me to post some recipes that are easy to whip together when they’re short on time. Between doing homework with the kids, bath time, after school programs, and making lunches, it’s hard to carve out time for a gourmet meal every night.

Well, you will not believe the tangy sweet & sour meatball recipe below. It is so ridiculously simple – and probably my kids’ favourite meal. Sure Nonna will be rolling over in her grave when she finds out we’ve substituted fresh crushed tomatoes with ketchup and ginger ale…. but we’ll keep that our little secret, shall we?

When these meatballs start out you’ll be questioning my sanity as they start out looking exactly like meatballs dunked in ketchup and ginger ale. Then magically, at about the 90 minute mark, the whole thing starts coming together to reveal the tasty dish that it is. Enjoy – and my apologies to Nonna!

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Rollin’ Nonna Spaghetti and Meatballs

Adapted from Second Helping, Please!

Couch to table in: 2 hours and 15 minutes

Serves: 4 to 6

Ingredients:

1 1/2 pounds medium ground beef

1 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

1 clove garlic, minced

1 egg

2 tablespoons matzo meal

1 1/2 cups ketchup

2 cups ginger ale

1 pound spaghetti, prepared

Preparation:

Combine first six ingredients and form into small balls. Combine ketchup and ginger ale and bring to a boil.
Drop meatballs into sauce, cover and simmer for 2 hours.
Serve meatballs over spaghetti.

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