Jenn Dolari @dolari@driveinsaturday.org

This Week's Meals: Hana-Wanna Meatballs.

This was actually pretty good! I'm not the biggest fan of meatballs beause they're essentially very tiny meatloaves, and that bready texture doesn't work with meat for me. But it's the sauce that saves this and makes it's something I'd absolutely make again.

There's a LOT of pineapple in this, but it and the vinegar give the sauce (and the meatballs) a very sweet and savory flavor that really works. I used crushed pineapple versus tidbits or chunks which made the sauce super thick, and made it part of the meal, versus just a gravy or glaze.

# Hana-Wanna Meatballs

From the Green Kitchen

1.25 pounds ground beef
0.75 tsp garlic powder [meatballs]
0.5 tsp black pepper
1.5 tsp salt [meatballs]
0.5 tsp ginger (grated)
1.0 whole egg (beaten)
0.6666666666666666 cup crackers (crushed)
0.3333333333333333 cup onion (finely chopped)
0.25 cup green pepper (finely chopped) [meatballs]
0.5 cup milk
2.0 tbsp shortening
2.0 tbsp cornstarch
0.5 cup brown sugar
0.25 tsp ground ginger
0.25 tsp garlic powder [sauce]
0.25 tsp salt [sauce]
0.3333333333333333 cup vinegar
1.5 tbsp soy sauce
1.0 cup water
20.0 oz pineapple tidbits
pineapple juice (from can)
0.3333333333333333 cup green pepper (finely chopped) [sauce]

Meatballs:
1 - In a bowl, mix the ground beef, garlic powder for the meatballs, black pepper, salt for the meatballs, ginger, egg, cracker crumbs, onion, green pepper for the meatballs and milk.
2 - Roll into 1 to 1 1/2 inch balls.
3 - Heat a large skillet at medium heat with the shortening and brown the meatballs. Remove to a platter.

Sauce
4 - In the same skillet, whisk the cornstarch, sugar, ground ginger, garlic powder for the sauce, salt for the sauce, vinegar, soy sauce, water and pineapple juice.
5 - Add the meatballs and simmer for 20 minutes, stirring constantly to keep the meatballs from sticking.
6 - Transfer to a crock pot and add pineapple chunks and green pepper.
7 - Cook on low for 4 to 6 hours, stirring occasionally.

#thisweeksmeals #cooking