Italian Meatball Subs

When I saw this recipe on My Kitchen Cafe I knew Mike would LOVE it, so I decided to give it a try. The meatballs are sooo good! And of course, in combination with the melted cheese and homemade bread, it makes for one delicious sandwich. She advises using the recipe for french bread rolls and shaping them into more sub-like rolls (which I need some practice on :-). The only problem I had was there were WAY more meatballs than rolls, so double the roll recipe, and you have enough meatballs to make about 10 sandwiches.

Meatball Ingredients:
1 cup unseasoned bread crumbs or crushed saltines
3/4 cup shredded Parmesan or mozzarella cheese (I used Parmesan)
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup low-sodium beef broth
1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley
3 eggs, lightly beaten
1 1/2 tablespoons dried oregano
3 cloves garlic, finely minced
1 1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons ground black pepper
2 teaspoons dried basil
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes, optional (I put them in and think they added SO much to the flavor!)
2 pounds ground beef or ground turkey
To dredge the meatballs:
1 1/2 cups flour in a shallow baking dish
For the Sauce:
1 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes
1 1/2 teaspoons dried basil
2 teaspoons dried oregano
1 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
For the sandwiches:
1 recipe French Bread Rolls, shaped into sub rolls and baked according to the recipe
Sliced mozzarella or provolone cheese (we used mozzarella)

Directions:
(if you are baking the rolls the same day, start them first)
*In a large bowl, mix all of the meatball ingredients together EXCEPT the meat. Let the mixture sit for 10-15 minutes so the breadcrumbs/crackers can soak up the liquid a little bit. Add the meat and mix well with your hands until all the ingredients are combined.
*Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil and lightly grease the foil. Form golf ball-sized meatballs and dredge them in the flour until lightly coated. Place the meatballs on the baking sheet about one inch apart. Bake for 20 -25 minutes until the meatballs are completely cooked through.
*Combine the sauce ingredients in a medium saucepan and bring to a low simmer. Simmer for 10-15 minutes on low. Keep warm until the meatballs are finished baking.
*When the meatballs come out of the oven, let them sit for about 15 minutes. Gently scrape off any fat and place the meatballs in a 9X13-inch baking dish, or similar size. Pour the hot tomato sauce over the meatballs. (I just added the meatballs to the large saucepan I cooked the sauce in)
*To assemble the sandwiches, slice the buns in half. (If desired, lay the buns flat open on a baking sheet and top one side with cheese – toast in the oven for 4-5 minutes at 400 degrees until the buns are toasted and cheese is melted.) Place 3-4 meatballs on each bun and top with desired amount of sauce. Serve immediately with lots of napkins.