Maple Turkey Meatballs - Maple from Canada

Ingredients

• Vegetable oil (for the baking sheet)
• 3/4 cup breadcrumbs
• 1/2 cup pure maple syrup from Canada
• 1 onion, minced
• 2 garlic cloves, thinly minced
• 1/4 tsp crushed hot pepper flakes, or to taste
• 1/4 tsp ground fennel seeds
• 2 lb. ground turkey meat
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• 5 oz. Alfred Le Fermier cheese or other kind, diced in 8 cubes
• 1 garlic clove, lightly crushed
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 4 cups canned ground tomatoes
• Salt and ground pepper, to taste
• 1/4 cup fresh basil, finely chopped