Columbus Day Special: Spaghetti and Meatballs

• 500 g spaghetti 1 lb

For the meatballs:

• 500 g ground beef 1 lb, or mixture with ground pork and/or veal
• 75 g Parmesan Cheese 2 oz, freshly grated
• 1-2 egg
• 1 Italian bread crust removed and soaked in milk, crumbled, large slice, stale
• 1-2 cloves garlic finely minced
• parsley finely minced, a few sprigs
• salt
• black pepper
• olive oil or lard, for frying

For the tomato sauce:

• 1 onion finely chopped, medium
• 1 clove garlic finely chopped
• 1 peeled tomato run through a food mill, or a large jar of passata di pomodoro, large can
• salt
• black pepper
• oregano optional, a tiny pinch

For topping:

• Parmesan Cheese freshly grated, or pecorino romano cheese