One of my favorite caregiver clients, Henrietta (101 years old) asked me to make this awesome meatball recipe for her a few weeks ago. I do the mixing and she enjoys reading the ingredients off to me as I go.
I made it at home tonight, and it is every bit as good as I remembered! I only made 1 pound of hamburger and cut the ingredients to a little less than half.
She makes the whole recipe, bakes a few, and freezes individual containers with 2 meatballs in each, unbaked with the sauce poured over them. Then bakes them in a small loaf pan whenever she wants a ready made meal. All the prep work is done.
While I am cooking for her, we talk about the old days, and all the cooking she used to do by hand ... no mixers, choppers, or electric can openers. She always has some interesting stories to tell!
Henrietta's Meatballs in Sauce
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In a large mixing bowl add:
3 pounds ground beef
3/4 C chopped Onion (chop 1/2 C. extra for sauce)
2 Eggs
2 Cups Oatmeal (uncooked)
1 can evaporated milk
1/2 teaspoon Garlic Powder
2 teaspoons Chili Powder
Mix, and shape into large balls. Arrange in pan with at least 2 inch tall sides.
Sauce
In medium size mixing bowl
2 Cups Ketchup
1/2 Cup chopped Onion
1 Cup Brown Sugar
1 Tablespoon Liquid Smoke (recipe called for 2 T. but she uses 1 T. and It seems to be perfect)
1/2 teaspoon Garlic Powder
Mix and pour over meatballs.
Bake covered at 350 degrees for 1 hour.
The whole house smells wonderful while these are baking!
Enjoy!