Meatloaf Meatballs

Meatloaf meatballs???  Doesn't get much more down-home than that.  I got this recipe  from Pioneer Woman, my favorite blog of LIFE.  These things are super simple, and super comforting.  This is probably more appropriate as a "it's November, I'm going to live in my sweatpants forever, and I hate winter" post rather than a "hey it's almost spring let's eat salads and wear high heels" post... but whatever. THE STOMACH WANTS WHAT THE STOMACH WANTS.  Let's proceed!

You'll need:

(for the meatballs)

- 1 1/2 lb ground beef

- 3/4 cups of quick oats

- 1 cup of milk

- 3 Tablespoons of finely minced onion

- 1 1/2 teaspoons of salt

- ground pepper

(for cooking the meatballs)

- 1 cup of all purpose flour
- canola oil

(for the sauce)
- 1 cup of ketchup (HEINZ or BUST ... you're welcome Joe)
- 2 tablespoons of sugar
- 3 tablespoons of vinegar (I just use white vinegar, but it would work with a variety of flavors I think!)
- 2 tablespoons of worcesterchire ....worcestershire ... woscheschire?  WORCESTERSHIRE.  You get the point.
- 4 Tablespoons of onion (minced)
- dash of hot sauce


First things first - chop up your onion.  Recipe in total calls for something like 7 tablespoons ...I just cut up a whole small onion and call it a day.

Add about half of your onions to the beef, oats, and in a large mixing bowl.  Season with salt and pepper.  Use your hands ... let's get dirty.  

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It'll look like this when you're done mixing everything together.  Mmmm pâté!

Shape them into about 1" balls with a cookie scoop or your hands, and place them on a cookie sheet.  Stick them into the freezer for about 5 minutes so they get really cold.  This will help them stick together.  When they're  out of the freezer, you'll want to toss them in the flour, and start searing over medium-high heat in a pan with canola oil.  

No need to cook them all the way through, just get some brown on the edges.

Like so!  Keep turning them until they are brown on all sides.

Then put them in a shallow oven safe dish.  This dish was too big, don't be like me.

OK, now they need the sauce! Just combine all the sauce ingredients in a small bowl or measuring cup, and slather over the meatballs.

Bake them, uncovered, in a 350 degree oven for 45 minutes.  These will make your house smell incredible.

That's it!!! Not so bad, huh?  Serve with whatever you've got lying around - this is a no fuss meal.

Enjoy!!

Courtzilla