Mighty Meaty Balls!

My final year at university is in full swing, deadlines are looming and with the "real" world and a "real" job only a few months away, I'm feeling pretty protective over my money. That being said, some of the best food in the world was invented by the poorer strands of society, especially in Italy where today's recipe is inspired by.

Pasta and sauce has got to be one of the most common meals for students up and down the country and why not? It tastes good, it's easy to make and it doesn't cost the earth. However, when you make your own the game changes. Homemade pasta sauce is one of the greatest things in the world and using fresh ingredients is so much better for you, not to mention the fact that it's cheaper. This recipe is a favourite in my house because it can be put together in a matter of minutes and you simply can't beat a tasty meatball, coated in garlicky tomatoey goodness and all mopped up with lovely spaghetti.

Mighty Meaty Balls
Serves 2 

Oil 
3 herby sausages, skins removed and cut into chunks 
1 small onion, finely diced 
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped 
1 yellow pepper, finely chopped 
3 tomatoes, finely chopped 
1 tsp sugar 
Salt and pepper 
140g spaghetti

Put a large frying pan over a medium-high heat and drizzle in a tablespoon of oil. Add the sausage chunks to the pan and fry, stirring continuously, until brown on all sides. Add the onion and garlic to the pan, turn the heat down to medium and fry for 10 minutes until the onion is softened. Add the pepper, frying for a further 5 minutes then add the tomatoes, sugar and a good pinch of salt and pepper and allow to bubble away while you cook the pasta.

Cook the spaghetti according to packet instructions. Drain and add to the sauce pan along with a tablespoon of the cooking water. Mix the sauce into the spaghetti and serve immediately.