THE Meatballs

Ever been to a restaurant or someone's house and had a dish or meal so good, you reminisce about how tasty it was?  And dreamily wished you had the recipe so you could make it yourself?  I have.  In fact, I've done that many times.... My mom's Italian Cream Cake with coconut and pecans.  Mrs. Kojima's sausage-stuffed chicken breasts.  Mrs. Barth's blueberry buckle.  The meatballs at my brother, Harold, and Cassie's wedding.  The meatballs Cassie brought to mom's house.  The meatballs Cassie sent with my mom when Grace was born.  Getting the drift? 

Cassie has a killer recipe for meatballs, and she sent it with my mom with the shipment of meatballs.  I was more happy to see the recipe than I was to see the food.  This recipe is actually Cassie's aunt's recipe, but since I got it from my dear sister-in-law, I'm giving her the credit.  Because she deserves it.  Every finger-lickin' bit of it.

BBQ Meatballs

3 lbs. hamburger

1 - 12 oz. can of evaporated milk

2 cups quick oats (or old-fashioned, whatever you have on hand)

2 eggs

2 Tbsp. chili powder

1 Tbsp. salt

1 tsp. pepper

1/2 tsp. garlic powder

1 cup chopped onion or 1/4 cup dried minced onion

Mix ingredients all together and form into meatballs.  Place close together in pan.

Sauce:

2 cups ketchup

1 cup brown sugar

Pour sauce over meatballs and bake at 350 degrees for 35-45 minutes.

*Makes 60-80 medium sized meatballs.

Ben is taking these to his work Christmas party tomorrow, so I cooked up a full batch for him.   I also made a double batch of the sauce since it would be in the crockpot for several hours.  I didn't want the meatballs to get dry. This recipe makes a lot of meatballs, so it is great to make and freeze for future meals.  It freezes well, just shape into balls and throw into the freezer.  When you're ready to use, pull out of the freezer, thaw in the fridge, make the sauce and throw it on top, and voila!  Or, you can cook them all up at once with the sauce, and then freeze.  Thaw in the fridge, and just nuke in the microwave for a few minutes.

This post is linked to Tempt My Tummy Tuesday and Tasty Tuesday.