Italian style meatballs

Ingredients

400 g beef mince

1 clove crushed garlic

1 cup grated Parmesan

chopped basil

2 slices thick white Italian-style bread (crusts removed)

0.33 cup milk

1 tbsp olive oil

750 ml bottle of tomato pasta sauce

1 cup beef stock

basil leaves

500 g pasta to serve

Place the beef mince, garlic, Parmesan, basil and a little salt and pepper in a large bowl.
Tear the bread into small pieces, place in a bowl, and pour over the milk and olive oil. Set aside until bread absorbs most of the liquid. Mix with a fork. Add to the beef mince. Using your hand bring the mixture together and knead until combined.
Shape small spoonfuls of mixture into small meatballs. Place the tomato pasta sauce, stock and a few basil leaves in a wide heavy based pan, bring to the boil, and then reduce heat to a simmer.
Have the tomato sauce at simmering point, not any higher or meatballs may break apart. Carefully spoon the meatballs into the sauce and cook uncovered for about 1012 minutes or until meatballs are cooked (depending on the size of the pan the meatballs may need to be gently turned while cooking). While meatballs are cooking, cook pasta.
Serve pasta with a spoonful of the tomato sauce and spoon over a few meatballs and flakes of Parmesan and basil leaves.

Freeze mince you don't intend to use. Uncooked mince can be frozen for 2-3 months. Rather than freezing loose mince in roundish shape as bought from the butcher lay it out flat to freeze. This is important as it allows the mince to freeze evenly and it allows the mince to thaw evenly. Cooked mince dishes can also be frozen for later use.
Thaw frozen mince (and any meat) in the fridge, on the lowest shelf below and or away from any ready to eat food. And only thaw in the microwave if using the mince immediately thereafter.