Sauce and meatballs

My husband is part Italian. His mom, Mimi, was a Christian woman. She was truly altruistic. Cooked and baked for many gatherings and never expected anything in return. The only thing that would offend her was when someone went for seconds before everyone was fed. She died of ovarian cancer. The lady was tough. By the time she explored why she wasn’t feeling well the cancer had spread. She was the glue to that family and is sorely missed. Mimi’s house represented something that many of us experience, a house where the doors are always open and no one is turned away. Feeding people is feeding ones soul. Mimi did this quietly with no fan fare. So many of my fondest memories were around food. I have said to Genevive that a memorable meal is so much more than the food itself. It’s the company, how hungry you are, and where you are. Mimi brought love and memorable meals to so many.

This recipe is from her grandmother…Grandma Ursillo

The sauce is mine, the volume is tricky but I’m going with feeding 8 people

When John came off the ball field…starving, the snack was 2 meatballs with sauce on wonder bread…thats right I said…WONDER BREAD!

sauce:

a 4 count good quality olive oil

1 whole sweet onion

3-4 cloves of garlic ( depends on how fresh your garlic is)

1/2 fennel

1 zucchini (optional)

1 stalk of celery (this is optional

1/4 c of the Pernod (think licorice)

1 Tbs brown sugar

1 Tbs salt

1 Tbs oregano

1 Tbs dried basil

Chili flake ( to your liking)

4-5 cans good quality canned tomato puree (we like Cento) saute the onions and fennel on medium heat until soft and slightly caramelized add garlic and cook until fragrant

add zucchini and celery

add the Pernod and sauté until booze has evaporated

Add the tomato purée

add the brown sugar and salt, oregano, basil, chili flake

simmer for 20m to let flavors marry

meatballs

a good quality ground beef (not lean)

4-5 eggs for ever pound of beef (bet that got your attention)

1c bread crumbs…more if you are doing a large batch

mix ..should be slimy

add 1 tbs dried basil

1 tbs garlic powder

1 tsp onion powder

1/2c parmasan

1 tbs salt

1/2 tsp pepper

form into balls to the size you prefer…..drop raw into a bubbly sauce.....yes RAW

leave for 3-4 hours

Comfort food for sure😌…..mangia! mangia!