Master Meatball Recipe

Meatballs are one of those things that busy moms and dads should love. They can be changed up and turned into a million different recipes just by changing or adding a few more ingredients. Take these for example: I made a double batch and did some up with brown gravy. The rest of the batch are hanging out in my freezer, waiting to become either 1) Meatball Subs, 2) Sliders or 3) BBQ meatballs. LEts face it, if you're going to take the time to make one batch you might as well double it and have some that are ready for a busy night.

This is my master meatball recipe. It's just a nice, plain meatball that takes well to sauces or gravies. You can certainly add more spices (I often add garlic powder, season salt or other things, depending on what I'm making with them.)

I've made swedish meatballs, meatballs in brown gravy, meatball subs, sliders and pizza, BBQ meatballs appetizer, spicy Thai chili meatballs, sweet and sour meatballs, sweet and spicy asian meatballs and probably a ton more that I can't remember right now.

Since it's Wednesday and I love you all sooooo much, I'm also going to share my mashed potatoes for a crowd recipe. This feeds the 7 of us with enough left over for lunches the next day. Did I mention that they are superb? Cause, they pretty much are awesome!

Mashed Potatoes 

5 lbs baby red potaotes
1 cup sour cream
1/2 cup butter
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper

Boil potatoes until they are fork tender. Drain water, put potatoes back in the pot. Add butter, sour cream, salt and pepper, mash until desired consistency (we like these a little on the lumpy side). Taste; adjust seasonings.



Master Meatball Recipe
makes approx. 100 small meatballs

4 lbs ground beef
1/2 onion, chopped fine
2 eggs
1/2 cup quick cooking oats
2 teaspoons salt
3/4 teaspoon pepper

In a bowl, beat the eggs, salt and pepper. Add oats and ground beef. Mix until combined, but being careful not to over mix. Form meat mixture into 1-1 1/2 inch meatballs and put them on a baking tray. Cook at 350 degrees for 20-30 minutes, or until cooked through. Use as desired.

To make the brown gravy meatballs, I just made some brown gravy in a cast iron skillet (I used a packaged mix) and added the meatballs to it for about 15 minutes, to soak up some of the goodness :)

Serve over potatoes, egg noodles or rice.

I hope you make these soon, they are so good and so simple. Besides, isn't it always nice to have an extra meal in the freezer? You will have at least one left over when you make these (maybe more!).