I sort of lured you into this post under false pretences. For that I kind of apologize. You should know the apology is only halfhearted.
I really have no idea if this is the *best* sweet & sour meatball recipe but I figure if every 2nd coffee shop in Manhattan can serve the "Best Coffee", there's obviously a great deal of leeway in the assigning of "best of" around North America.
They are really good sweet & sour meatballs though. Really good.
In fact. They're the best.
This is not an original Karen recipe. It is a stolen recipe from a Church cookbook, so if I were to tell you it's an original Karen recipe I run the risk of the wrath of the church ladies. Or being struck by lightening. Or even worse ... developing an affinity for Hello Kitty scrunchies.
This is a relatively quick meal that has it all on one plate. Rice, vegetables and ... balls of meat. It goes by the name, "Cheap and Chic Meatballs". According to the church ladies anyway.
[print_this]
Cheap & Chic Meatballs
from the Jubilee Cookbook
Ingredients
Meatballs Sauce
1 lb ground beef ½ cup brown sugar ¼ cup vinegar
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¼ cup bread crumbs 1 tablespoon cornstarch 1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 egg beaten ⅓ cup water
salt & pepper
Vegetables for stir frying
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 large onion, diced large
5-7 carrots, ¼" slices
2-3 red peppers, in chunks
Method:
1. Combine ground beef, bread crumbs, egg and salt and pepper. Form into small meatballs. Place on cookie sheet and bake in oven at 325 until done. Apx. 30 minutes.
2. Add onion, carrots and peppers to large pan or wok. Stir fry for 8 minutes or until done.
3. In a saucepan, whisk together brown sugar and cornstarch to incorporate. Add water, vinegar and soy sauce. Mix well. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly until thick and clear.
4. Add cooked, hot meatballs and sweet and sour sauce to vegetables and stir until everything is coated with sauce.
Serve over bed of rice and eat it up. [/print_this]
I've given this some thought. I'm gonna commit and declare this is the best sweet and sour meatball recipe. Now if you'll excuse me I have to go do the best laundry in the best washing machine in the best laundry room in the best house in the best neighbourhood in the best town in the best country in the best planet. The laundry of course, is being done ... by the best person. With the very best scrunchie.
mdk
Close... but I think you forgot the apricot jelly.
Linda
sorry, had to do it! LOL
Wendy
This is hilarious! I had this EXACT recipe when I attended Brownie camp in 1979 and I STILL use it regularly today. My family loves it and I have passed this sauce recipe on to everyone I know. Can be easily doubled or tripled successfully. Can't believe you found the identical recipe -and didn't realize it originated with "church ladies" -may explain why it is loved by all!
Karen
LOL! That's funny. I guess it really is a good recipe if it's being passed along for THAT many years. ~ karen!
Jack
Question: If you were preparing this recipe for hungry men, how many would it serve?
Karen
It would probably serve 4 hungry men. That is my guess. It is a guess. ~ karen
Cindy G.
I think your "Cheap & Chic" meatball recipe should meet my "Saucy" miniature meatball recipe and go out on a date...
Karen
Cindy. Is you Jewish? Is your recipe from a Synagogue cookbook? 'Cause if that's the case all we need are some Mosque meatballs to possibly create World Meat Peace. ~ karen
Cindy G.
Hmmm... no, I'm not Jewish, but since I don't know where my mom got the recipe, we can pretend that it was passed down from my Lithuanian grandmother who had a best friend who A) loved to cook and B) was Jewish, because if it came from my grandmother, eating it would probably be lethal, so it's safer to invent a friend. So, World Meat Peace could be potentially happen (and maybe my grandmother really did have a Jewish friend...).
Ana
Think this would work in the slowcooker?
Cheryl
OK--the recipe sounds absolutely delicious--most definitely my kind of food--
however--I just don't think I could eat it off a blue plate. Just sayin' . . .
Jean munroe
I love that blue -- I think it's really turquoise -- plate because I have those dishes AND that silverware. So, Karen, you also have the very best taste.
Barbie
Looks yummy and easy! Thanks Karen.
Evalyn
Do you think the key to a good sweet and sour dish is the vegis? I think carrots are the key. Some people might say peppers, but I think carrots. And celery because frankly I don't like peppers and wouldn't put them in. So, I'm going with carrots and celery. Thanks for your input, I feel better now.
Rebecca
The best food poisoning!
Nicola
Nice
SK Farm Girl
Mmmmm . . . sounds yummy! Will be making it tonight, but subbing ground beef with ground chicken! I know a number of people are skiddish right now with the ground beef issue so go out on a limb and think out of the box! Try ground chicken, ground turkey, ground bison or even ground elk (or other wild meet of your choice)! Know where your meet comes from; chose an accountable supplier . . . just saying!
Elen Grey
I am not printing this recipe on the best printer, in the best office, over the best garage, on the best str... ;-)
Hm. I wonder if I can do this recipe with ground turkey.
Nancy Blue Moon
Stealing from church ladies Karen..tisk tisk..you should be severely punished young lady..like having to wear two Hello Kitty scrunchies..one on each side making your hair stand up in short little ponytails..forever..lol
Dawna Jones
YUMMY,YUMMY!
http://www.dawnajonesdesign.com/
Karen
They are! I'd venture to say ... they're the best. ~ k
Rebecca
Really, recipes with ground beef? Your timing might be a little off Karen. Unless your readers enjoy a bit of E. coli with their sweet and sour sauce;)
Karen
Hah! I know. I may start buying from small farms if I can find some. ~ karen!
Theresa
Mmmmm, sounds great! Going to try it out on the guy sometime soon.
Stephanie
Sooo, CHeap CHick or Sheep Shic Meatballs? hee hee
Caffeine hasn't kicked in yet, still goofy.
FLP
This really is the best town.
maureen
i love church cookbooks. when my kids were young, i used to make the veg and sauce like that with leftover turkey. stole that idea from a buffet at the bay's georgian room when i was a kid. yummy
Laura
Wait... Does your super chic short hair even hold a Hello Kitty scrunchie?!?! You really do do everything!
I said do do!
Karen
LOL. You did indeed. The kd lang show was FANTASTIC by the way. Laura and her sister (The Secret Sisters) opened for kd lang on tour this year, everyone. kd also has super chic short hair. I do not think she owns any hello kitty scrunchies. ~ karen!
Nicola
Cool Laura! Congrats! Or should it be congrats kd lang that you opened for her! Way to go!