Recipes

[Harpa]

Not my recipe, but wanted to share in case you want great "finger food."

The meatballs

2 lbs. ground chuck

1 small onion, minced

1/2 cup Panko bread crumbs

minced parsley

1 extra large egg (to bind) or 2 small

Salt & pepper

The sauce

1 1/2 cups catsup

3/4 cup grape jelly

Pre-heat oven - 350 degrees.

Mix the meat and shape into 1-inch balls. Bake on parchment (supported by cookie sheet) for 20 minutes.

Put catsup & jelly in a small sauce pan. Heat on med. high to combine. (Boil for a minute, stirring w/ whisk.)

Remove meatballs and transfer to a baking/serving dish. Ladle or spoon sauce over each meatball. Bake for another 10 minutes.

Remove from oven and insert party toothpicks into the center of each meatball.

Yield: about 50 meatballs

Tips

(for any kind of meatball)

Do not use too many bread crumbs.

Do not over mix.

Do not over bake.

[drizzellla]

Many many years ago (at least 45), we met the parents of my brother's soon to be wife. The Mother was quite a cook. And this is one of the numerous dishes that she put out for us that evening.

We couldn't believe the ingredients but she knew what she was doing. It was quite tasty. The sweet of the jelly and the contrast of the ketchup. It was a crowd pleaser.

I had done very little to no cooking up to that point in my life. So it was a real eye opener. To combine ingredients that you didn't think would "work" and they turned out to be a memorable tasty dish.

[Group 5 minus 1]

This is an old familiar recipe,but I have always used chili sauce. Available in the grocery store aisle next to the ketchup.Also great w/ current jelly.

[Bhvbum]

I use the same recipe, the only difference is I also use 1/2 pound of breakfast sausage.

[KingstonsMom]

Other kinds of jelly work well with this recipe too, like apple and my favorite, raspberry!

[deepwaterdotter]

These are always a favorite at buffets.  I make a recipe that replaces the Panko and egg with quick-cooking oats and milk, then I coat them in flour.  I brown them in oil in a frypan, then finish in a glass baking dish covered by the sauce to cook through.   My sauce includes a bottle of cocktail sauce, a can of whole cranberry sauce, a cup of brown sugar, and a cup of water. 

[AuntG]

We love your recipe! 

[Bhvbum]

What a great idea, now I have a use for that whole cranberry sauce I have had since Christmas!

---

@deepwaterdotter wrote:

These are always a favorite at buffets.  I make a recipe that replaces the Panko and egg with quick-cooking oats and milk, then I coat them in flour.  I brown them in oil in a frypan, then finish in a glass baking dish covered by the sauce to cook through.   My sauce includes a bottle of cocktail sauce, a can of whole cranberry sauce, a cup of brown sugar, and a cup of water. 

---

[sunshine45]

this is a classic recipe, but you can play around easily with the sauce.

switch up the jelly/jam.....have used apple, raspberry, blueberry, apricot, currant.

use bbq sauce in place of the ketchup.

use chili sauce in place of the ketchup

use equal parts brown sugar, ketchup, and bourbon.

add a few squirts of mustard for a tangier sauce.

use little smokies OR cut up kosher hot dogs into bite sized pieces in place of the meatballs OR kielbasa/polish sausage.....fast and easy.

substitute chicken breast pieces for the meatballs and add some pineapple chunks.