Ball Food

Obviously, at a Ball Party we had to eat ball shaped food. I enjoyed trying to come up with this menu, though I still think it was a little scanty. MJL didn't think that anyone but me would eat peas, but I think they would have 'rounded' things out ;).

We had melon balls, rolls, new potatoes, and two kinds of meatballs; maple glazed from Southern Living, and Chicken Florentine from Taste of Home.

Abby and Anna were great helpers, though allowing a 4 year old to help make meatballs required deep breaths from Mama. "It is good for her, it is important for her, it's her party, relax." (repeat)

Taste of Home doesn't allow me to post a link, but they weren't my favorite anyway.

The maple glazed meatballs were delicious. I don't know what the rules are about posting recipes, but I'm going to share this one with you.

Maple-Glazed Meatballs

Prep: 25 minutes Cook: 25 minutes

3 slices white bread

1/2 cup milk

2 large eggs, lightly beaten

1 Tablespoon prepared horseradish

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

1 1/2 pounds ground beef

1/2 cup ketchup

1/4 cup water

1/4 cup soy sauce

1/3 cup maple syrup

3/4 teaspoon ground allspice

1/2 teaspoon dry mustard (I didn't have any, so I just squirted in a little regular mustard)

Soak bread in milk. Combine bread mixture, eggs, and next 3 ingredients in a bowl; stir well. Add beef, mix well.

Shape beef mixture into 1 inch balls Place on a rack in shallow broiler pan. Bake at 450 degrees for 10 to 15 minutes or until meatballs are done. (We did this step ahead of time, and then froze the meatballs. On party day, we just threw them into a crock pot with the sauce.)

Combine ketchup and remaining 5 ingredients in a saucepan, cook over medium heat 5 minutes or until bubbly, stirring occasionally. Add meatballs to sauce, and cook 5 minutes or until thoroughly heated. Serve warm.

Yield: 5 servings