My Awesome Meat Balls!

Ingredients
1/2lbs ground pork
3/4lbs ground beef
1/2 cup pine nuts
1/2 cup raisins
1 egg
6 basil leaves, finely chopped
4 parsley leaves, finely chopped
1/4 cup ricotta
1/2 cup parmesan, finely grated
day old rustic white bread
1/4 cup milk
salt and pepper
1/2 onion, finely chopped
can of plum tomatoes
can of tomato puree, Pomi
1/2 cup white wine
3 thyme sprigs
2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar
2 teaspoons sugar


To make meatballs...
Remove the soft inside part of the white bread and place in a small bowl. Poor the milk over the bread and set it aside. In a large bowl mix together ground meat, raisins, pine nuts, ricotta, chopped herbs, egg, parmesan, and the soaked bread. Season mixture with salt and pepper then form into golf sized balls. Mixture should make about 20 meatballs.


To make tomato sauce...
In a heavy based pot heat some oil then add the chopped onion. Season with salt and cook over low heat until onion has softened about 10 minutes. Add the white wine and simmer for a few minutes until alcohol has cooked off. Next add the can tomatoes and the tomato puree. With your wooden spoon break up the tomatoes into smaller chunks. Bring the sauce to a simmer, add balsamic, thyme sprigs, and sugar. Stir to combine everything and season with salt and pepper. 


To cook meatballs...
Increase the heat of the sauce to a boil. Place balls evenly throughout the sauce cover pot with a lid then reduce heat to low. Cook meatballs covered for 30 minutes. Then uncover and cook for 10 more minutes.
Serve meatballs over spaghetti with fresh grated parmesan!