Meatball anyone???

Last night's dinner was one of my favorites. I've been cooking it for years but I have to thank one of the amazing Army wives I've met over the years for the recipe. Jenilee had me over for dinner one night while the guys were deployed and I fell in LOVE with her delicious meatballs. They've been a favorite ever since. They are a little time consuming but so worth the wait!!!

The recipe Jenilee gave me called for 3 lbs of meat. I have halved the recipe because I have only cooked that many meatball once. For our little family of 4 one and half lbs of meat leaves plenty of left overs

What you will need for the meatballs:
1 1/2 lbs of 93% lean burger
1 cup of quick oats
1 5 oz can of evaporated milk
1 tablespoon of minced garlic
1/2 an onion (more or less)
1/2 tsp of pepper
2 tsp of chili powder
1 egg

The sauce is what makes these meatball so wonderful. So whatever you do don't skimp on any of the following ingredients. Also this part of the recipe has not been halved. I just love it too much! I have used this sauce on pulled pork before too and it's wonderful!

What you will need for the sauce:

2 cups of ketchup
1 cup of brown sugar
1 tablespoon of garlic powder
1/4 cup of onion (my kids snarl their noses at onions so I use about 1 tablespoon of onion powder and it's just as good)
And the secret ingredient*2 tablespoons of liquid smoke



Before you begin mixing everything turn the oven to 350 degrees to preheat. Then throw everything for the meatballs into a large bowl and then throw everything for the sauce into a pan. Heat the sauce on low until the brown sugar melts. While that's going start mixing your balls. I use my Pampered Chief mixer stick (I have no idea what it's really called) and it works wonders and keeps my hands clean, at least for this part. Mix and mix until it looks about like this.

Then roll the mixture into giant meatballs. Or you can do small ones (which would reduce your cooking time if your in a rush) but I usually make these fairly large. Place them into an oven safe dish. I use my small pyrex.

Next pour the sauce evenly over the meatballs. Place in the oven and cook for an hour. Then devour!!!