The Meatballs of My People

Today was one of those days where things weren't going wrong... they just weren't going right. It felt like I had a hangover all day long, and yet, I hadn't been drinking the night before. The combination of blah weather, work frustrations, a nagging headache that wouldn't go away, and the inability to focus on one thing for more than 20 minutes made for a very cranky Carol. To top it off, nothing seemed to be doing the trick for me food-wise. I was hungry, but nothing in the fridge called out to me (despite being chock full of goodies from yesterday's farmers market run). Nothing in the pantry was at all appealing. I ended up snacking on some unsatisfying Thai food leftovers, eating half a bag of potato chips, and longed for the days when I could pour myself a bowl of cereal, cover it in cold whole milk, and just wallow in some Lucky Charms.

Knowing my day had gone to shit productivity-wise, I decided to get out of the house for a few minutes in the late afternoon and run a few errands, one of which was going to the grocery store to pick up some laundry detergent. When I walked through the whoosh of the sliding glass doors of my local Giant, there it was -- inspiration in an endcap: three shelves of Welch's grape jelly. I knew then exactly what would make me feel better.

I grabbed a jar of the jelly, a bottle of Heinz chili sauce, and a shallot and headed home (yep, forgot the laundry detergent I went for in the first place) to make what I call The Meatballs of My People. And by "My People," I don't mean the Pennsylvania Dutch, the Irish, or the German. I mean, the meatballs any of us who grew up in the 60s, 70s, and 80s in middle-class America loved to eat: beef meatballs in a grape jelly-chili sauce sauce. These meatballs were front and center at many a family function or friend's party when I was growing up. Usually in a crockpot, usually eaten one-by-one with a toothpick. Disgusting and awesome all at the same time. Typically made with frozen meatballs, but that wasn't the case tonight. Why? Because I MAKE MEATBALLS, that's why.

I smiled at the cashier when she handed me my change. I sang along with the radio in the car the whole way home. And, I practically skipped up the front walk to my house. Even though the sun had begun to set, my day was finally starting to look up. I came inside, defrosted some ground beef, and got to work.


The Meatballs of My People
1 lb. ground beef (from Smith Meadows Farm)
1/2 C bread crumbs (I whacked 2 slices of EnerG tapioca bread in the food processor)
1/4 C whole milk
1 egg
1 tsp. kosher salt
1 shallot, minced
1/2 tsp. Lea & Perrins Worcestershire sauce
1 18-oz. jar Welch's grape jelly
1 16-oz. bottle Heinz chili sauce

Preheat oven to 350F degrees.

In a large bowl, combine beef, bread crumbs, milk, egg, salt, shallot, and Worcestershire sauce. Mix with hands until ingredients are fully incorporated.

Roll beef mixture into small balls (3/4" is perfect, no larger than 1") and place on baking sheet. Bake for 30 minutes.

While meatballs are baking, combine jelly and chili sauce in medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce to a simmer. When meatballs are done baking, plonk them into the sauce, cover the pan, and allow them to simmer for an hour over low heat.

(makes 36 meatballs)




While the meatballs were simmering in the sauce, I did a few of the things on my to-do list that had been nagging at me all day long. I tied up some loose ends with clients. And, I returned a few phone calls. All things I should've done earlier in the day but just couldn't get my shit together to be motivated enough to do.

Behold, the power of making meatballs. It's good for thy productivity.



They begged to be eaten with a toothpick, but I didn't have any. So, I was a tad more refined and speared them, one-by-one with a fork, and savored every bite. Sweet, tangy, beefy, hearty... exactly as I'd remembered them, only better. Eating them made me thirsty for a tall glass of cold milk (a craving I was happy to indulge). And now, strangely enough, I want to start a card club, wear bell bottoms, and make a Jell-o mold.