Spaghetti Two Ways

I am nesting right now and, like I said in my last post, I am revisiting comforting recipes from my childhood. I'm also really enjoying easy recipes that pack some real taste. These are two very different, very simple, spaghetti recipes that pair well with a simple green salad with maybe some nuts and green onions thrown in. I am partial to Dorie Greenspan's house vinaigrette from Everyday Dorie. Enjoy!

Spaghetti with Salmon and Tomato Sauce

1/4 c olive oil
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 tbsp finely chopped fresh parsley
1 tsp dried basil
1 - 28 oz can plum tomatoes
1/3 c tomato paste
1/2 tsp sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
8 oz dried spaghetti noodles
1 - 7 3/4 oz tin salmon (or tuna), drained and flaked
capers, optional

Saute garlic in oil over medium low heat with parsley and basil until golden. Add tomatoes, tomato paste, sugar, salt and pepper. Simmer for 20 minutes, breaking tomatoes with a spoon. Add flaked salmon or tuna.
Meanwhile, cook pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain and mix into sauce. Let sit, covered, for 5 minutes before serving.

Hands-Off Spaghetti and Meatballs

* This is an America's Test Kitchen recipe found in multiple places. Seriously, it's good!

12 oz dried spaghetti noodles, broken in half
1 - 24 oz jar of marinara sauce
2 c water
1 lb lean ground beef
3/4 c panko breadcrumbs
1/3 c basil pesto
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
grated parmesan

Heat oven to 475F. Spray 13x9 inch baking dish with vegetable or olive oil spray. Spread dried pasta in the dish, pour sauce and water over pasta and gently toss with tongs to coat.
Combine beef, panko, pesto, salt, and pepper, ideally with your hands. Roll into 1 1/2 inch meatballs. (I use the Pampered Chef small or medium scoop depending if I want slightly larger or slightly smaller meatballs.) Place meatballs on top of pasta, cover dish tightly with foil, and bake for 30 minutes.
Remove from oven and stir. Return uncovered dish to oven and bake until pasta is tender nd sauce is thickened, about 5-8 minutes.
Toss to coat pasta and meatballs with sauce. You can add some hot water here if you want to thin the sauce a bit. Let cool for 10 minutes. Serve with grated parm.