Homemade Meatballs:
* 1 lb. ground meat --your choice
* 1 egg
* 1/2 cup milk
* 1 cup breadcrumbs or finely crushed cracker crumbs
* 1 t. salt
* ground pepper to taste
Beat egg and milk. Add rest of ingredients and mix thoroughly (I use my hands) Form about 1 inch balls. Brown all sides in a HOT skillet with a little oil.
Arrange in a single layer in a cake pan and cover. Bake at 350 degrees until cooked clear through. 20 to 30 minutes depending on how long you had them in the skillet.
Alternately, you can leave them in the skillet, pour in about a cup of water, lower the heat and cover. Cook until cooked clear through. This works well in a cast iron skillet. OR leave them in the cast iron skillet and put them in the oven. Just cook them all the way through without browning them more.
To freeze, place cooled balls on cookie sheet so they don't touch each other. Cover and place in freezer over night or until frozen solid. Move to zip lock bag and store in freezer.
Sweet and Sour Meatballs:
* Bag of meatballs THAWED
* Large green pepper cut into about 1 inch pieces. (I also use colored pepper sometimes... they are a bit sweeter)
* 20 oz. can pineapple tidbits
* 3 Tablespoons cornstarch
* 1 cup cold water
* 3 Tablespoons cider vinegar
* 1 Tablespoon soy sauce
* 1/2 cup brown sugar
Drain Pineapple reserving juice. Set chunks aside. Add enough water to juice (if needed) to make 1 1/2 cup. In a large skillet, combine meatballs, peppers, and juice. Cook on medium until heated through and peppers are the crispness you like.
In the meantime, cook some rice to serve with the meatballs.
In a small bowl, combine the cornstarch, cold water, vinegar and soy sauce. Whisk until smooth. Add brown sugar and mix. Add mixture and reserved pineapple chinks to the pan of meatballs. Bring to a boil and cook for about 2 minutes until sauce is thickened. If it gets too thick, add some water. (It seems I always have to do that.)
Serve with rice.
I have made this several times, and I always say that "next time" I will double the amount of sauce. We seem to want more...... I always forget. I think I would use 1/3 cup cornstarch, 1/3 cup vinegar, 2 T. soy sauce and 2 cups cold water. I would also double the brown sugar. Maybe next time I will try this. Remind me, OK?