Pugsley: aka, the Sausage.
Lori: Loves Pugs. Writing. Food and Fashion.
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Q. What is the perfect winter meal to go with a work from home in sweatpants day, pug snoring on your lap, Christmas tree lights twinkling and a cold snowy Connecticut backdrop?
A. BBQ Meatballs and Mashed Potatoes
Can I call it or can I call it?
I ate so much there is now an odd ringing noise in my ears. Like the kind you hear right before the room starts spinning and you either pass out or have to vomit.
But it was Oh.So.Worth.It.
Here is the recipe if you're ever craving some good old fashioned down home comfort food:
Prep Time: 15 Minutes Cook Time: 45 Minutes Difficulty: Easy Servings: 6
Ingredients
* FOR MEATBALLS
* 1-½ pound Ground Beef
* ¾ cups Oats
* 1 cup Milk
* 3 Tablespoons Very Finely Minced Onion
* 1-½ teaspoon Salt
* Plenty Of Ground Black Pepper (to Taste)
* _____
* FOR COOKING MEATBALLS
* 1 cup All-Purpose Flour (coating For Frozen Meatballs)
* Canola Oil
* _____
* FOR SAUCE
* 1 cup Ketchup
* 2 Tablespoons Sugar
* 3 Tablespoons Vinegar
* 2 Tablespoons Worcestershire
* 4 Tablespoons (to 6 Tablespoons) Onion
* 1 dash(es) Tabasco
Preparation Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Combine all meatball ingredients. Roll into medium-small balls and place on a cookie sheet. Place sheet in freezer for five minutes (this just makes them easier to work with)
After 5 minutes, remove meatballs from freezer and immediately dredge in unseasoned flour.
Brown meatballs in canola oil until just brown. Place into a baking dish.
Combine all sauce ingredients. Pour over meatballs and bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes. Serve with mashed potatoes or whatever floats your boat.
---
My next move is to get horizontal on the couch and dig out my Love Actually DVD.
I might be ready for some chocolate chip cookies about midway through.
In other news Purdy walked in her first snow today!
I don't think she liked it. But she did enjoy wearing her pink retro puffer vest that I found way down in the bottom of the clearance bin at Tarjay for $1.99.
Life is good.
emily the biker pug commented December 9, 2009 7:41 PM
Damn Lori that sounds good, I don't think I have ever had BBQ meatballs and mashed is a favorite.
Plum is stylin in that winter vest.
I must admit I am a bit envious about the work at home, I had to work outside/inside today fell and hurt my knee, so can you see the humor in this Emily limping around, Sunshine back legs don't work and now me limping around and to boot I got to carry those two up and down the stairs one step at a time. After I get an xray tomorrow morning I am coming home and take a long nap with all 4 pugs. Then maybe I will try the BBQ meatballs.
emily the biker pug commented December 9, 2009 7:47 PM
Lori after carefully looking over the recipe what is the purpose of putting the meatballs in the freezer for 5 min.?
I am not much of a cook
Lori commented December 9, 2009 8:01 PM
Oh, sorry to hear about your knee trauma!!
You should definitely try the recipe since you are in need of some comfort.
Putting the uncooked meatballs in the freezer for 5 mins before cooking just makes them a little easier to work with. it firms them up a bit so they don't fall apart when you are turning them in the frying pan :) it's not essential, but will help them stay nicely packed and formed.
thanks for the question I will include it in the recipe in case anyone else is wondering too.
marni commented December 10, 2009 7:42 AM
Mmmmm... warm food on a cold day. Those two dishes look wonderful!
Love Actually has become my new favorite holiday movie; possibly my fave movie of all time. The stories are so awesome...
Need to go watch it myself.
Lex commented December 10, 2009 12:55 PM
Love Plum's vest! ;) Did she enjoy the snow?
Mmm meatballs.. I was thinking of making meatloaf tonight... but maybe i will do that instead.. with the mashed potatoes.. *drool*
Lori commented December 10, 2009 1:11 PM
I have to say she did not enjoy the snow! She was a trooper but then this morning when we went out and the whole lawn was iced over she kept trying to run (or should I say slide) to the backdoor before doing her business. I had to keep picking her up and plopping her back out in the snow until she went :( Poor Plum!
Emily and Lex, please come back and let me know how the meatballs came out if you decide to make them!
Becky commented December 10, 2009 6:59 PM
I thought you might have made your beef stew, your brother's secret recipe. Would go great with mashed taters, too. Love Plum's new vest! She is looking well. Stay warm!