My Excellent Degustations

First prepare the meatballs mixture. Soak the bread crumbs in the milk for few minutes.

Add all the meatballs ingredients to the soaked bread crumbs except the ground beef. Mix them very well with a fork.

Add the ground beef at the end and mix just to combine. Try not to overwork the beef.

Cover the meatballs mixture with plastic wrap and refrigerate.

Now, prepare the tomato sauce by putting the tomatoes in a boiled water. Let boil for few minutes, then gently peel them off.

Put olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat.

Add onion, garlic, salt, pepper, oregano, dried basil, pepper flakes (optional), sugar and tomato paste.

Cook for about 5 minutes, then add the peeled tomatoes.

Use a potato masher in the same saucepan to mash the tomatoes.

Let cook for a good 10 minutes on medium temperature then add water and bring to boil.

Let simmer for about 30 minutes, then add the fresh basil.

While the tomato sauce is simmering, form your meatballs and place them in a slightly oiled baking sheet.

Bake in a 350°F preheated oven for about 30 minutes.

At this time cook the spaghetti according to package directions.

Drain and add 1 tablespoon butter. Mix the butter well.

Place the meatballs in the tomato sauce and let simmer for about 10 minutes.

Serve the spaghetti with the tomato sauce and meatballs.

Add Parmesan cheese on top.

Enjoy.

Put 1/4 cup water in a cup, add yeast and a teaspoon of sugar. Let proof.

In the bowl of a stand mixer, put flour, salt, olive oil and the remaining amount of sugar. Mix well with a spoon.

Add the yeast mixture and mix everything, using the stand mixer fitted with a dough hook.

Add water gradually, and mix on medium speed for about 5 minutes or until obtain a soft dough.

Put about 1 tablespoon of olive oil in your hand and oil the dough all over in the same bowl.

Cover with plastic wrap and let rise for 2 hours or until doubled in volume.

Dump the dough in a slightly floured working board and deflate it.

Divide the dough into small equal pieces ( around 16 pieces).

Roll out each piece of dough with your hands to obtain a long thin log or breadstick.

Place the breadsticks 2 inches apart in a baking sheet.

Cover with a clean kitchen towel and let rise again for 30 to 60 minutes or until almost doubled in volume( it depends on the temperature of your kitchen).

Brush the breadsticks with melted butter and sprinkle with the mixture of salt, garlic powder and oregano).

Bake in a 400°F preheated oven for 15 minutes or until golden.

As soon as you take the breadsticks from the oven, brush immediately with the rest of melted butter.

Enjoy.