Ham Balls. Family Picnic Classic!

Just know that it makes a lot and if you keep your hands wet when rolling the meatballs, it will be a lot easier.                                             --Therese Gross

Ham Balls. *This makes enough for two casseroles.

1 # ground beef

1 # ground pork

1 # smoked ham( ground well)

1 cup milk

1 cup cracker crumbs

2 eggs

2 T green pepper(I don't use these.)

pepper

1. Mix well.  Wet your hands.   
2. Form in balls.  
3. Roll in flour and brown well in oil. 
4.  Put in corning casserole.
5. Pour over this:  

• 1 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/2 cup vinegar
• 1 tsp dry mustard

    6.  Bake in covered casserole about 350 degrees for 1 1/2 hours or so.

*NOTE:  This makes enough for two casseroles so I make extra sauce and pour it over 2nd bowl.  I put this in the freezer for later use.

*Noelle's inquiries responded to:  

• I never thought of having the butcher grind (ham).  Good Idea.  I just do it in my blender.
• I just sprinkle with pepper....do not put 2T of pepper.  2T is only if you chop up green pepper.
• I do use white vinegar, but it does not specify.  

July 2021

Olive Garden Sausage Soup, from Josephine.

Olive Garden Sausage Soup:

1# mild Italian sausage

1/2 diced onion

1T minced garlic

6C chicken broth

2C water

3-5 yellow potatoes, diced

2t salt

1t pepper

2C heavy cream

4C chopped kale (calls for fresh, can use a combo of fresh or frozen or 1/2 kale and 1/2 spinach as well)

cooked chopped bacon for garnish

1. Saute sausage in large pot til cooked. Remove w/ slotted spoon. 
2. In same pot, over med heat saute onions. Then add garlic 1 min. Do not burn! 
3. Add broth, water, potatoes, s and p and bring to a boil. Turn to med. heat til potatoes are tender. 
4. Stir in kale, cream, and sausage. Add s and p if needed. 
5. Simmer til kale is as soft as you like it. 
6. Stir in bacon. 
7. Serve w/ homemade croutons and a side of fruit.

It's actually a good summer meal and comes together quickly. Just fry and chop your bacon in the morning-only a few slices.

Shevin's Chili, Josie's vote of confidence! Crock Pot/Slow Cooker Soup.

Shevin's Chili:

put all ingredients in crock pot on low 5-6 hrs. Serve w/ rice. Top w/ sour cream, diced red onion, banana peppers, cheese, cilantro...

1# ground beef and 1# ground tky

1 can each black and kidney beans, drained

2 cans each stewed tomatoes, diced tomatoes, crushed tomatoes

2 packs McCormick chili seasoning

1 red onion, chopped

2-3 cloves garlic, chopped

Add a little soy sauce, taco seasoning, Worcestershire sauce, chili powder, banana pepper juice

NOTE: the first time I made it I under-seasoned everything, worried it'd be too spicy for my kids. Add more seasoning than you think.

Blueberry Muffins. Ruby's find. EXCELLENT!

 

Ruby, Summer 2021 (Testing Recycled 80's Styles)

*Madeline on the floor, also in red.  :)

Ingredients

1-1/2 c. all purpose flour

3/4 c. white sugar

1/2 tsp. salt

2 tsp. baking powder

1/3 c. vegetable oil

1 egg

1/3 c. milk (lactose free is fine), *OR MORE as needed

1 c. fresh blueberries

Crust Ingredients: mix with a pastry blender or a fork/knife until you have a crumb mix!

1/2 c. white sugar

1/3 c. all-purpose flour

1/4 c. butter, softened

1-1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon, *I just did 2 shakes, and it was just fine!

DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees; grease muffin cups or line with muffin liners
2. Combine 1-1/2 c. flour, 3/4 c. sugar, salt, and baking powder.
3. Place vegetable oil into a 1 cup measuring cup; add egg, and add enough milk to reach the "1 cup" mark.  Mix this with flour mixture.  If it is too thick, add milk until it pours reasonably.
4. Fold in blueberries.
5. Fill muffin cups just about right to the top. NOTE:  The original recipe suggests making only 8, and filling the empty muffin spaces with 1 cm of water to prevent pan-burning.  As you can see, mine went over and ran together.  Next time I will make 9, and not go right to the top with the muffin mix (still filling a cm of water in the empty tins when I bake).
6. Sprinkle with crumb mixture (be generous; use it all up)!
7. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until done (toothpick test).

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Link to original recipe, from Allrecipes.