Spaghetti and Meatballs

Ingredients:
1 1/2 lb. sweet or spicy Italian sausage
1 t. olive oil
1 medium onion, diced small
2 cans (28 oz. each) whole peeled tomatoes
1 lb. spaghetti

Directions:
Boil a large pot of salted water.
Remove sausage meat from casing and roll into 24 balls. In a large saucepan or dutch oven, heat oil. Add sausage and cook until browned all over, about 5 minutes. Using a slotted spoon transfer meatballs to a plate. Add onion to pan and cook, stirring frequently, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add tomatoes, breaking them up as you go, and season with salt and pepper; bring sauce to a boil and cook 5 minutes.
Add pasta to water and cook according to package directions. Meanwhile, add meatballs to sauce and rapidly simmer until sauce is slightly thickened about 7 minutes.
Drain pasta then toss with sauce and meatballs.

Makes 4 servings. Total time 30 minutes.

Verdict:
Not bad. I have never been a big fan of spaghetti and meatballs but I figured I would give it a go. I liked that you can pick the spiciness of the sausage. The kids liked it but mostly picked around the meatballs.

Spaghetti With Three Tomato Sauce

Ingredients:
1 lb. spaghetti
1/2 c. oil-packed sun dried tomatoes, chopped, oil reserved
4 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 to 1/2 t. red pepper flakes
1 can (28 oz) whole peeled tomatoes
1 lb. cherry tomatoes, halved

Directions:
Boil salted water in a large pot, cook the spaghetti according to package directions. Drain, reserving 1 c. pasta water; return the pasta to the pot.
Meanwhile, heat 2 T. sun dried tomato oil in a large saucepan. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes; cook until fragrant, 30 seconds. Add the canned tomatoes (with juice) and sun dried tomatoes. Simmer gently, stirring occasionally and breaking up the canned tomatoes, until thick, about 15 minutes.
Add the cherry tomatoes; simmer until soft, about 10 minutes.
Add the pasta. Season with salt and pepper. Toss adding pasta water as desired. Serve immediately.

Makes 4 servings. Total time 35 minutes.

Verdict:
Blake is always telling me that we can have spaghetti for dinner. I like spaghetti I am just not the biggest fan of jarred spaghetti sauce. So I am always looking for a good quick sauce. This one fits the bill. I really like the flavor and how light it tasted. Blake liked the flavor but picked out the sun dried tomatoes. (He says he doesn't like the texture.) The kids ate it but also weeded out the tomato chunks.