Pasta and spaghetti are all synonym with the Italian cuisine, but there is much more, there should be, considering Italian cuisine dates back to the 4th century BC. In Italy, meatballs are known as polpette and marble sized ones, polpettine. Meatballs are prepared using minced beef, pork, turkey, etc. meat mixed with herbs and cheese, and rolled by hand to a golf ball size. It is generally served as a main course or in soups. They are easy to make, you will see, as you go through and try some of the recipes. Spaghetti and Meatballs Ingredients for Meatballs:

• Ground beef, 1 pound
• Ground pork, ½ pound
• Bread crumbs, 1 cup
• Fresh parsley, 1 tbsp
• Milk, ½ cup
• Salt and pepper, to taste

Ingredients for Sauce:

• Tomato puree, 1 ½ cup
• Tomato paste, ½ cup
• Olive oil, 2 tbsp
• Minced garlic, 2 cloves
• Chopped onion, ½ cup
• Chopped basil, ¼ cup
• Fresh parsley, ¼ cup
• Grated Parmesan cheese, 4 tbsp
• Water, 2 cups
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• Cooked spaghetti, ¾ pound

In a sauce pan, heat oil, sauté garlic and onion, until pink and tender. Add the tomato puree and paste, water, parsley, basil, and bring to a boil. Season with salt and pepper, let it simmer on low heat. In a separate bowl, combine bread crumbs to the milk, and add all other meatball ingredients. Shape into small-sized balls, and drop into the simmering sauce. Cover, and cook for a couple of hours, stirring occasionally and adding water if required to maintain sauce consistency, until the meatballs are cooked and tender. Before serving, stir in the Parmesan cheese. Ladle sauce with meatballs over a spread of spaghetti in a plate. Serve hot. Classic Italian Meatball Ingredients:

• Ground beef, 1 pound
• Eggs, 2
• Crushed roasted garlic, 2 cloves
• Chopped onion, ½ cup
• Fresh parsley, 1 tsp
• Milk, 1/3 cup
• Romano cheese, ¼ cup
• Dry bread crumbs, ¼ cup
• Powdered Italian seasoning, 1 tsp

In a large bowl, mix all ingredients well. Shape mixture to form meatballs about the size of a golf ball. Place them on the baking sheet, and bake in a preheated oven to 375° F, until the meatballs brown and are done. One can use this recipe as a snack or simmer in tomato based sauce and serve as part of the main course. Meatball Soup Ingredients for Meatballs:

• Ground beef, 1 pound
• Seasoned breadcrumbs, 1 cup
• Egg, 1
• Grated Parmesan cheese, ½ cup
• Water, ¼ cup
• Dried parsley, ½ tsp
• Dried basil, ½ tsp
• Dried thyme, ½ tsp
• Dried marjoram, ½ tsp
• Salt and pepper, to taste,

Ingredients for Soup:

• Canned low salt beef broth, 15 ounces
• Tomato juice, 1 ¾ cup
• Chopped onion, 1 cup
• Carrot, 1 cup
• Celery, ½ cup
• Green and red bell pepper, ½ cup
• Green beans, ½ cup
• Diced sweet potatoes, ½ cup
• Shell shaped pasta, ¼ cup
• Dried basil and thyme, 1 tsp
• Salt and pepper, to taste

In a bowl, mix all ingredients. Shape the mix into gold ball sized balls. Place them on a pre-sprayed baking sheet, and bake them in a preheated oven to 375° F, until done. Heat oil in a large saucepan, or a slow cooker, add the onion, carrot, beans and celery, and sauté, until just done. Add the meatballs along with the rest of the remaining ingredients, and bring it to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, until vegetables are done and meatballs look soft and tender. Serve hot with your choice of bread. On cold winter days, these recipes will not only make you feel nice and warm, but add a whole new meaning to family dining.