Pasta and Meat balls in tomato gravy

200g minced beef

300g minced pork

3 cloves garlic, crushed finely

1 tablespoon finely ground black pepper

1 teaspoon salt

Half of a beef stock cube (Chopped into fine bits)

Half cup fresh parsley, chopped

half cup breadcrumbs

1 egg, beaten

Put both meats into a large mixing bowl and add all the rest of the ingredients to it. Mix well to combine all seasoning with meat. Set aside for 30 minutes so the flavours can blend.

Make round meat balls one and half inches in diameter. Heat a generous amount of oil and gently place meatballs into hot oil. Fry for 4 minutes, turning meatballs to sear all the sides. (Large meatballs will take more time to cook). You don't have to fully cook the meatballs as it will be cooked later in the tomato gravy but you have to fry first so they don't break up in the gravy later. Set aside.

250g pasta (or more)

1 teaspoon salt

Fill a large pot with water and bring to a boil. Add the pasta and salt. Boil for 6 to 8 minutes or until al dente. Then drain the water from pasta by pouring it into a colander. Run cool water through pasta a bit. Drain. Put into a casserole dish. Do not add Olive oil to the pasta as we want the sauce to cling to the pasta and coat it...not slide off it. Cover and set aside.

Gravy:

1 cup of onions, chopped finely

2 garlic,crushed finely

1 big bottle (24oz/680g) of Prego's traditional Italian sauce

half a cup of water

1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp black ground pepper

Take 5 tablespoons of the oil that has been used to fry the meatballs and put into a non-stick heavy saucepan. Add the onions and garlic and fry for 3 minutes.

Cook for 4 minutes. Add the Pregos Italian sauce. (Add a little water or red wine, to loosen the thick sauce from bottle and add to the gravy mixture). Stir well and simmer till it is bubbling. Then add the meatballs, basil to the tomato sauce gravy. Season with salt and pepper. Cook for about 30 minutes on a gentle simmering heat. Stir now and then. Take off heat. Serve with pasta.