STOP AND SHOP MEATBALLS RECIPES

Steps:

• For the Meatballs: Preheat the oven to 450F
• Drizzle the olive oil into a 9 x 13-inch baking dish and use your hand to evenly coat the entire surface
• Set aside
• Combine the ground beef, ricotta, eggs, bread crumbs, parsley, oregano, salt, red pepper flakes, and fennel in a large mixing bowl and mix by hand until thoroughly incorporated
• Roll the mixture into round, golf ball-size meatballs (about 1 1/2 inches), making sure to pack the meat firmly
• Place the balls in the prepared baking dish, being careful to line them up snugly and in even rows vertically and horizontally to form a grid
• The meatballs should be touching one another
• Roast for 20 minutes, or until the meatballs are firm and cooked through
• A meat thermometer inserted into the center of a meatball should read 165F
• While the meatballs are roasting, heat the tomato sauce in a small saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring often
• When the meatballs are firm and fully cooked, remove them from the oven and drain the excess grease from the pan
• Pour the tomato sauce over them
• Return the meatballs to the oven and continue roasting for another 15 minutes
• For the Classic Tomato Sauce: Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat
• Add the onions, bay leaf, oregano, garlic, and salt and cook, stirring often, until the onions are soft and translucent, about 10 minutes
• Add the tomato paste and continue cooking for 5 minutes
• Add the tomatoes and stir constantly until the sauce begins to boil
• Lower the heat and simmer for 1 hour, stirring every 5 minutes or so to prevent the sauce on the bottom of the pot from burning
• Taste and season with additional salt, if desired
• Remove the bay leaf before serving

Steps:

• Add all ingredients except olive oil into a large bowl, mix well.
• Roll meatball mixture between your hands to shape into balls. Each ball should be about two tablespoons. 
• Heat olive oil over medium heat in a big skillet. Cook meatballs until brown and cooked through (about 6-8 minutes on each side.)