National Meatball Day is today (3/9/21), meatballs are so versatile and good in so many different ways.
My mom-Pam, taught me how to make the most delicious easy meatballs. At that time I was a teen and wanted nothing to do with the kitchen, so the fact that I remember watching her make these is kinda special. Fast forward a few years later when I found my passion for food and became part of a “foodie” crowd, one of the first things I heard was “wait you don’t bake your meatballs before you put them in your sauce?”. No my mom was insistent on that, you put them in the sauce raw and don’t touch the sauce for at least an hour (of course we cook it longer, just don’t touch it the first hour). Let’s say you walk by the sauce and most of us just want to stir it and taste it, if it’s before that hour you would hear her for miles “don’t touch the sauce” and she wasn’t one to raise her voice often, but when it came to the sauce it was a different story.
Lately I have been making them and freezing them. I will use store bought frozen meatballs in a pinch but having your own meatballs in the freezer-can’t beat it. Once you make a batch in the freezer you will see it’s so easy to use them in so many different meals.
Freezing tips;
Make two sizes; big & small, for different recipe uses.
I like cooking them just a little in the oven before I freeze them. I bake them at 400 for about 20 minutes to brown (some may be under done but you will be cooking them another time). Cool on the counter for about 30 minutes and then lay on a parchment lined baking sheet individually apart (do not stack) and put in the freezer. About 2 hours later pull from he freezer and put in a freezer bag. This way they store easier and you can take out just what you want.
Re-heating; Defrost in the fridge the day before. Put in your favorite pot of sauce-stove top or slow-cooker or put in the oven covered with sauce or cheese.
Meal ideas;
- A meal on their own pair with a salad and garlic bread.
- Spaghetti Sauce & Meatballs
- Swedish Meatballs
- Barbecue Meatball Appetizers
- Meatball Sliders
- Meatball Meatloaf
- Meatball Subs
Mom’s Meatballs
1lb 80% hamburger
1 egg
1 ladle of spaghetti sauce (or bbq sauce depending on what you are using them for)
2 Tbsp milk
2 tsp of salt & pepper
- Mix gently with your hands, don’t mix too much. Form into meatballs and cook in your sauce until done (don’t stir for at least one hour). Baking in the oven is also a great option.
Have a great day!
-Angie
