---------------------------------MEAT BALLS------------------------------= --- 1 1/2 lb ground beef chuck 1/2 lb ground pork 1/2 c chopped onion 1/4 c minced parsey 1/4 c grated Parmesan cheese 2 tb bread crumbs 2 tb oil 2 eggs 1 Clove garlic; minced 2 ts salt 1/4 ts pepper olive oil --------------------------------TOMATO SAUCE-----------------------------= --- 1/4 c oil 1/4 c chopped onion 1/4 c chopped green pepper 1 Clove garlic; minced 1 cn (6-oz) broiled mushrooms 4 cn (6-oz) tomato paste 1 cn (#2-1/2) Italian plum -tomatoes 1 ts sugar 2 ts salt 1/4 ts pepper ----------------------------MAKING THE CASSEROLE-------------------------= --- 1 lb tufoli (large tube macaroni) meat balls from step #1 1 -(up to) 1 1/2 pk frozen chopped spinach 1 ts salt 1/2 c Parmesan cheese 1 egg tomato sauce recipe Mix all ingredients for meat balls together thoroughly, except the last, olive oil. Form into medium sized balls: brown in oil. Set aside and cook in tomato sauce later. To make tomato sauce: Heat the oil: add onion, green pepper, garlic, mushrooms (drained and halved) and saut=82 until golden. Stir in tomato paste; cook for 4 minutes. Press plum tomatoes through a strainer; add an equal amount of water. Combine with tomato paste mixture. Add sugar, sal= t and pepper. Bring to a boil; add meatballs and cook over low heat 1-1/2 hours or until sauce thickens slightly. Remove meatballs and put aside. Cook tufoli in 6 quarts boiling, salted water for 12 to 15 minutes or until almost tender. Mash meat balls in a bowl. Add spinach (drained an= d finely chopped), salt, 2 tablespoons cheese and the egg, mixing well. Stuff this mixture into cooked tufoli. Cover bottom of a large casserole with half of sauce and arrange alternate layers of stufted tufoli and sauce, sprinkling each layer with cheese; finish with sauce. Cover dish and bake in a moderate oven (350 degrees) for 30 minutes. Serve with extra sauce and cheese. Serves 6 very generously. Source: A Taste of Louisiana. From Glen Hosey's Recipe Collection Program, hosey@erols.com -----
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