Meatballs.....JUST the thing for a busy life

When we got home tonight I started making meatballs. 3 Days ago I took a pound of hamburger out of the freezer and put it at the back of the refrigerator to slowly defrost until I could get to it. I realized - on the way home that it was still there. Sooo, while driving the 60+ min home I decided to make meatballs.

meat balls in a zip-lock bag..waiting to be used

Recipe:
Pre-heat the oven to 350 deg F.  While heating, get started on the meatballs.
1 lb of ground meat - any meat. For me this time, beef. Hamburger to be exact.
1 small onion, diced
1 shallot (I had it in the refrig and it needed to be used) minced
4-5 large mushrooms - minced
1 small red pepper - minced
elephant garlic (mine were harvested on Saturday....you can use 2-3 small cloves - dice)
bread crumbs (mine is stale sourdough that needed to be used, use what you have - toast it and crumble into small pieces)
salt, pepper, spices. I used some fennel seed from my garden and some red pepper flakes. If I used pork I'd use some chili pepper. Chicken-Turkey, use basil. Salmon (yes-salmon) I'd use dill.....but use what you'd like.
2 eggs
Mix all this up. For some reason, I can't touch red meat so I wear gloves. Normally, I like getting my hands into my food - except for meat. This started when I was pregnant with Andy. Still creeps me out.
Make meatballs about the size of pin pong balls. The mixture shrinks as it cooks. These turn out a bit bigger than bite size.
Put these balls on a baking sheet with a rim and bake for 30 min. (or so). Check it in the oven.
Mix up a tomato glaze. I used ketchup, BBQ sauce (bottom of the bottle) and some pickle juice (=spicy vinegar). Mmmmmm - smells soooo good, at about 30 min take a spoon and cover the balls with your glaze and then bake for another 10 min or so. Beef needs to get to 140 deg F. Chicken/Turkey to 160. Salmon.....actually can be eaten raw ( I know.....but it's a Northwest thing) but I cook these to 130F.

Done!

Cool, freeze and store in a zip-lock bag for when you've had a horribly long day, the boss is a bitch, you get home late, and everyone's HUNGRY.
Take them out of the freezer, pop them in a hot pan with oil, warm up. You can defrost in the microwave before....but not necessary, let the sauce warm them up. Add to pasta or rice or potato. Add a sauce of some kind. Cream, tomato, pesto.....all of it is good and definatly better than anything coming out of a window (= "fast food"). 

Of note in my garden: The garlic and chives are sprouting, It was almost 55 degrees today and there is notably more daylight.....ahhhhhhh.

Spent the day with Andy and Tammy working on their tile kitchen backsplash. We had soooo much fun figuring, planning, measuring, etc. 2 trips to Home Depot. And then a great dinner at Counter. A "make your own to order burger". Tried FRIED DILL PICKELS!!!!  OMG...I need to learn how to do this one! Waaaay too good. Good thing they're 60+ min away.