How many things may you do with a lowly meatball? Here are four recipes, for starters.
Who target
to be in the kitchen when the day is mild, the sun is shining, and the fragrance of spring is in the air? Here are four meatball recipes you can make at one measure
, cool, and freeze. Two recipes are for the oven, the third for the skillet, and the fourth for the microwave.
Sweet and Sour Meatballs: combine 3 lbs. ground beef with 1 cup milk, 1 cup finely-chopped onion, and 2 cups saltine cracker crumbs. Form into golf-sized balls and place in 9x13 pan. Mix together: 1/2 cup vinegar, 1 cup ketchup, 1/4 cup brown sugar, and 2 tbsps. Worcestershire sauce. Pour over meatballs. Bake at 350 for 40 minutes.
Norwegian Meatballs: combine 2 beaten eggs with 1/2 cup milk. Stir in 2/3 cup crushed saltine crackers and 1 finely-chopped onion, 1/2 tsp pepper, and 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg. Add 2 lbs. ground beef and mix well. Shape into meatballs and place in 9x13 pan. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes. Then heat one 10-oz. may of condensed cream of mushroom soup with 3/4 cup milk and 1/2 tsp nutmeg, and spoon over meatballs. Return to oven 10 to 15 minutes, to heat through.
Meatballs in Pita Bread: combine 3/4 lb. ground beef, 1/2 tbsp dried oregano, 1/2 tsp minced garlic, and 1/4 tsp ground red pepper. Form into 16 to 18 meatballs and fry in very little oil in skillet over medium-high heat for 5 minutes, browning on all sides. Then lower heat to medium, add 3 tbsps water, cover and cook 3 more minutes. To contruct
sauce, combine in measuring cup 3/4 cup plain yogurt or sour cream with 1/2 tsp minced garlic and 3 tbsp lemon juice. Serve meatballs in halved pita bread with sauce, lettuce, sliced tomatoes, and crumbled feta cheese.
Greek Meatballs: combine 1 lb. ground turkey with 1/4 cup chopped onion, 1 egg, 2 tbsps dry bread crumbs, 2 tbsps chopped ripe olives, 1 tbsp dried parsley, 1/2 tsp minced garlic, 1 tsp oregano, 1/2 tsp cinnamon, 1/2 tsp ground allspice. Form into small meatballs and place in microwave-safe casserole dish. Then combine 1 8-oz can tomato sauce, 1 tsp sugar, 1/4 tsp pepper. Pour over meatballs. Cover dish with Saran wrap and microwave for about 12 minutes, stirring several times at intervals until meatballs are cooked through.