Pasta Balls

I can't really take credit for this dish because it was my dad who created it. He's been talking about these things since he first tasted them 25 years ago. He described the ingredients and the concept to my mom and I and we decided to test them out. They turned out great and he was so thrilled. Try these pasta balls today, you will love them!

In order to get them perfectly fried and not greasy, you will need a deep-fryer. It's worth it.

 Ingredients:
- 1 lb spaghetti
- 2 pounds ricotta cheese
- 2 cups freshly grated mozzarella
- 1 onion, finely diced
- 4 garlic cloves, finely minced
- olive oil
- 3 eggs
- 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- garlic powder
- salt
- pepper
- marinara sauce
- vegetable oil
- bread crumbs - Italian style
- freshly chopped Italian flat-leaf parsley
- freshly chopped basil

To Make:

Start by boiling a large pot of salted water. When the water is boiling, add the pasta and cook according the the package directions, making sure to keep the pasta al-dente.

In the meantime, mix together the ricotta cheese, mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese and 3 eggs. Season liberally with salt and pepper and add in 2 handfulls of freshly chopped parsely and garlic powder.

In a small saute pan, saute the onions and garlic in olive oil for a few minutes until tender. Mix them into the cheese mixture.

Once the pasta is done, drain and transfer to a large serving platter. Drizzle with olive oil to prevent sticking, then with a large knife and fork, cut the pasta into 2-3 inch pieces. Mix the pasta into the cheese mixture.

Now the mixture is ready to form into balls. Wash your hands and remove any rings. Begin forming the mixture into balls, about the size of a medium meatball. Roll the balls into the Italian style bread crumbs and set aside.

Deep fry them when you're ready to serve because then they'll stay fresh. Once they are deep fried serve on a bed of marinara sauce and top with fresh basil. You can also sprinkle with cheese if preferred. They'll make any occasion special :-D