Monday, December 31, 2012

Happy New Year!

I'm having my annual New Year's house party with my old college roommates. It's the one time of year when everyone can get together, and we have time to sit around in our pajamas, eat, and catch up.

It has become a tradition to have fondue, both cheese and meat, for our New Year's Eve dinner. It's such a nice choice for a long meal and very little work for me.

But there's that little hour or two when people are arriving but it's not quite time for dinner that's always tricky for me.

Many years ago, at a catered party, I had the best little meatballs. At first the caterer acted coy and simply thanked me for my praise. But I pestered and pestered him until he shared the secret to the disappearing meatballs that no one could resist. So easy. So simple. Currant jelly.

So I whipped up these mini-meatballs for my friends. Honestly, I think they'd be every bit as good with a savory sauce. Be warned, this sauce is very sweet. If the sauce is too sweet for your taste, add 1/2 a cup of dry champagne!



Party Mini-Meatballs
(makes 32 mini-meatballs)

1/2 pound ground beef
2 slices bread
1/3 cup cup milk (approximately)
2 eggs
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
scant 1/4 cup minced onion
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon oregano

olive oil

1/2 cup red currant jelly
1/2 cup ketchup
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

Preheat oven to 350. Grease baking tray with olive oil.

Soak bread in milk and squeeze out. Mix beef, bread, eggs, cheese, onion, garlic and oregano in a bowl until thoroughly combined. Roll into 1-inch meatballs.

Roast meatballs for 20 minutes.

Meanwhile, bring jelly, ketchup and Worcestershire to a boil and reduce heat. Add meatballs and simmer for 10 minutes. Serve!

Happy New Year!


6 comments:

  1. Good food and good fun with great people, sounds like the perfect New Year's Eve--and I'm drooling over those little meatballs, a great little nosh for cocktail hour. (Sadly, I'm battling a head cold so it's spicy Indian food for us and a hot cuppa tea with honey--okay, maybe a glass of the bubbly at midnight.) Happy New Year, K! ~ Cleo

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    1. Oh no! I'm so sorry to hear that, Cleo. Colds are just miserable. Spicy Indian does sound good though. Hope the new year brings you good health!

      ~ Krista

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  2. Krista, I love meatballs. So simple. Someone told me about this sauce a few weeks ago, almost to the letter. I'm going to have to try. Have fun with fondue. I think that is always a great way to do a dinner. So easy and chatty. Enjoy!

    And Cleo, hope you feel better soon.

    For us tonight, my son is in town and wants to make us a Cuban pork roast. It's already marinating.

    Love and hugs,

    Daryl / Avery

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    1. Wow! Cuban pork roast. Yum! Happy New Year, Daryl!

      ~ Krista

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  3. Oh my mouth is watering over those Krista. I wonder if you replaced the catsup with barbeque sauce, whether that might cut the sweetness a little?

    Feel better soon Cleo! and oh, Cuban pork roast....heaven!

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  4. Fondue is so fun! We've done that to for New Years in the past. I have a lemon fondue & a chocolate that are favorites as well as a cheese fondue my brother would request for his birthday. I like baking meatballs! Seems less messy. I also like to use a small ice cream scoop for shaping.
    Best Wishes in 2013!
    P.S. Any party with jammies is a good thing! ;)

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