Gameplay Magazine - Culinary Delights: Kyrusia's Spaghetti with Red Sauce and Meatballs

In this issue we are trying the first in a series of Kyrusia's delicious recipes!

Spaghetti with Red Sauce and Meatballs

Ingredients
- 1 pound spaghetti noodles
- salt, for pasta water
- olive oil/EVOO (Extra Virgin Olive Oil), for pasta water

Ingredients for the Meatballs
- 1 1/4 pounds ground sirloin (ground beef will work)
- 2 teaspoons Worchestershire sauce
- 1 egg, beaten
- 1/2 cup Italian breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan, Parmigiano-Reggiano, or Romano cheese
- 2 cloves garlic, minced or pulverized
- Salt and pepper

Ingredients for the Sauce\Gravy
- 2 tablespoons EVOO; enough to cover the bottom of your pan in 2 turns
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 2 large cloves of garlic or 4 small cloves (if you prefer a lot of garlic with more bite)
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 1 cup beef stock
- 1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomato
- 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
- (Optional: Handful of finely-chopped parsley)
- (Optional: 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano)
- (Optional: 1/2 teaspoon marjoram)

Note: You *can* substitute with a store-bought sauce. See directions for details.

Additional Recommended Ingredients
- Grated cheese of choice, if any
- Strong-crust bread or garlic bread

Steps to Culinary Delight!

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.

2. Place a large pot of water on to boil for spaghetti. Add salt and olive oil. When it boils, add pasta and cook to al dente.

3. Mix ground sirloin/beef, Worcestershire, egg, bread crumbs, cheese, garlic, salt, and pepper. Hands work best for this. Roll meat into 1 1/2 inch medium-sized meatballs and place on a nonstick cookie sheet or a cookie sheet greased with EVOO.

4. Bake meatballs for 10-12 minutes, or until no longer pink in the middle.

5. Heat a deep skillet or medium pot over moderate heat. Add oil, crushed pepper, garlic, and finely chopped onion. Saute 5-7 minutes, until onion is soft and just translucent. Add beef stock, crushed tomatoes, and herbs.

5*: If you are using a store-bought sauce, follow 5. When you add beef stock etc., simply add your store-bought sauce and then add the herbs. Beef stock and crushed tomatoes are not necessary if you're using a store-bought sauce.

Depending on taste, pick one of the following:

6a. Add meatballs to sauce. Let simmer on low for 10 minutes.

7a. Serve meatballs and red sauce over spaghetti.

OR

6b. Let sauce simmer on low for 10 minutes.

7b. Toss hot, drained pasta with a few ladles of the sauce (and grated cheese, if you wish).

Finally,

8b. Turn meatballs in remaining sauce. Place pasta on dinner plates and top with meatballs and sauce (with extra cheese if you wish). Serve with crusted bread or garlic bread.

Enjoy this culinary delight, brought to you by the ever diabolically determined Kyrusia! If you haven't already, check out his GP magazine profile here!