Adult Mini Meatball Noodle Soup

Ingredients

• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
  
• 4 tablespoons olive oil
  
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
  
• 1 small yellow onion, minced
  
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  
• 24 ounces can tomato sauce
  
• 1/4 cup red wine
  
• 4 teaspoons kosher salt, plus more
  
• 3 teaspoons sugar
  
• freshly ground black pepper
  
• 1/4 teaspoon fennel seeds
  
• 3 cups fresh baby spinach
  

Directions

1. Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and onion and cook until soft, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the tomato paste and cook for 2 minutes more. Add the remaining butter, olive oil, tomato purée, 2 teaspoons salt, sugar, pepper, Italian seasoning, fennel seeds, and wine, and simmer until thick, about 5 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, make the meatballs. Mix the remaining 2 teaspoons of salt with the ground beef. Use a ½ tsp to roll the meat into tiny balls. Place meatballs into sauce and reduce the heat to medium. Cook until the meatballs are cooked through, 6 to 8 minutes.