quote:

Originally posted by annpeeples

I think everyones recipe sounds wonderful!!I have been using a sauce recipe from a friend from Sicily-pretty simple-tomato sauce, chopped tomatoes,fresh garlic,basil,onions, oregano.The best secret I learned was in making the meatballs-never cook them first.Always throw them in the sauce raw and simmer for 1 hour or more.Fantastically tender,and the sauce is even better.

My mother always put the raw meatballs in her sauce. Our Italian neighbors never did. They fried or baked them first………depending on how many they were making. I find the sauce just as good either way. My Italian lady friends told me that the amount of cheese and the number of eggs that you put in the meat was the key to tenderness. I really have no idea but I do them the way our neighbors did and I make terrifc meatballs.[:D]