Meatball Sub Sandwich

1. Gather the ingredients.

2. Preheat the oven to 375 F.

3. Place sub rolls, open-faced, on a baking sheet and toast in the oven for 2 to 5 minutes.

4. Meanwhile, place the meatballs and spaghetti sauce in a 3-quart pot. Heat over medium heat until warm, about 10 to 15 minutes, depending on the size of your meatballs.

5. Place 2 to 3 meatballs with a little sauce on half of each submarine roll. Top with some shredded cheese. Return to the oven and bake 3 more minutes until cheese is melted.

6. Serve and enjoy!

Submarine Sandwich Background

According to Wikipedia, a submarine sandwich, also known as a sub, wedge, hero, grinder, or one of the many regional naming variations, is a type of sandwich that consists of a long roll of bread split lengthwise and filled with a variety of meats, cheeses, vegetables, seasonings, and sauces. But the name of this sandwich differs from region to region: one study found 13 different names for the sandwich in the United States. And what's even more interesting is that the usage of the several terms varies regionally, but not in any pattern, as they have been called different things by the people and companies and restaurants who make and sell them. 

The use of the term "submarine" or "sub" (after the resemblance of the roll to the shape of a submarine) may have started in New London, Connecticut (which is the site of the United States Navy's primary submarine base) during World War II. However, printed ads from 1940 in Wilmington, Delaware indicate the term originated prior to the United States' entry into the second World War, possibly created by an Italian immigrant who served up what we now think of as traditional Italian subs (a long crusty roll, filled with cold cuts and cheese, topped with lettuce, tomatoes, peppers, onions, oil, vinegar, Italian herbs and spices, salt, and pepper. The name is still usually connected to the inspiration of the submarine, whether it was before the war or during.