Mia's Spaghetti & Meatballs

Step 1 -Line an 18x26-inch baking sheet with parchment paper.

Step 2 -In a large bowl, add the ground beef, the breadcrumbs, the parsley, 1 tablespoon of the grated parmesan cheese, 1/4 teaspoon of the black pepper, the garlic powder, and the beaten egg, and by hand, mix well but gently to combine.

Step 3 -By hand, form the ground beef mixture into evenly sized balls.

Step 4 -Place the meatballs on the prepared baking sheet 2-3 inches apart.

Step 5 -Tightly cover the meatballs with foil and transfer them to the refrigerator.

Step 6 -In a large saucepan over medium heat, add the olive oil.

Step 7 -Add the onions and the garlic to the hot oil and sauté until the onions are translucent, about 4-5 minutes.

Step 8 -Add the tomatoes and their juices, the salt, the sugar, and the bay leaf to the onion-garlic mixture and cook, while stirring frequently, until it comes to a simmer.

Step 9 -Cover the saucepan and reduce the stovetop heat to low.

Step 10 -Simmer the sauce mixture until the flavors meld together, about 1 hour 30 minutes.

Step 11 -Add the tomato paste, the basil, the remaining black pepper, and the prepared meatballs to the sauce mixture, and simmer, while stirring frequently, until the meatballs reach an internal temperature of 155 degrees F, about 30 minutes.

Step 12 -Plate the meatballs and the sauce over the spaghetti.

Step 13 -Sprinkle the spaghetti and the meatballs with the extra shredded parmesan cheese and serve.