Meatballs Super Bowl Style By Freda Food

ALL-PURPOSE MEATBALLS

Steps:

• To make the meatballs, combine the ground beef, breadcrumbs, milk, cream, parsley, mustard, salt, black pepper, red pepper flakes and eggs in a large mixing bowl. Mix together well with your hands. Scoop out 1-tablespoon portions and roll them into balls with your hands. Place the meatballs onto parchment-lined baking sheets and put the baking sheets in the freezer for 5 to 10 minutes for the meatballs to firm up.
• To brown the meatballs, heat the olive oil in a heavy pot or large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the meatballs in batches, making sure not to overcrowd the pot. Cook, turning the meatballs to make sure they brown all over, 5 to 7 minutes per batch. Drain on paper towels.
• Freezer instructions: Put the cooked meatballs in a single layer on baking sheets and put into the freezer. When frozen, divide them into freezer bags, 25 per bag, and return them to the freezer.

BUFFALO-BUFFALO MEATBALLS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F and lightly brush a baking sheet with vegetable oil. Mix 2 tablespoons sour cream, the panko and egg in a large bowl; let sit 5 minutes.
• Grate 1 carrot and 1 celery stalk into the bowl with the panko mixture. Add the meat, celery leaves, half of the scallions, the parsley, garlic, cayenne and 1/2 teaspoon salt and mix with your hands until combined. Dampen your hands and shape the mixture into 36 mini meatballs (about 1 inch each); arrange on the prepared baking sheet. Bake until browned and cooked through, about 12 minutes.
• Meanwhile, melt the butter in a Dutch oven or large pot over medium-high heat. Add the remaining scallions and cook until wilted, 1 minute. Add the chicken broth, hot sauce and ketchup; bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium low. Simmer until the sauce thickens slightly, about 8 minutes. Add the meatballs; simmer until tender, about 8 more minutes.
• Mix the blue cheese and the remaining 3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons sour cream in a medium bowl. Cut the remaining 2 carrots and 2 celery stalks into sticks. Transfer the meatballs to a bowl and serve with the vegetable sticks and blue cheese dip.

COMFORT MEATBALLS

Steps:

• For the meatballs: In bowl, combine the ground beef and oats. Pour in the milk, and then add the onions, salt and pepper. Stir to combine. Roll the mixture into tablespoon-size balls and refrigerate them for 30 to 45 minutes to firm.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Heat the canola oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Dredge the meatballs in the flour, and then brown the meatballs in batches until light brown. As they brown, place them into a rectangular baking dish.
• For the sauce: Stir together the ketchup, onions, vinegar, sugar, Worcestershire sauce and hot sauce. Drizzle the sauce evenly on the meatballs.
• Bake until bubbly and hot, about 45 minutes.

CLASSIC BEEF MEATBALLS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Drizzle olive oil into a 9-by 13-inch baking dish; using your hand, evenly coat entire surface. Set aside.
• In a large bowl, use your hands to mix together beef, ricotta, eggs, breadcrumbs, parsley, oregano, salt, red-pepper flakes, and fennel until fully incorporated. Roll mixture into firmly packed 1 1/2-inch balls.
• Place meatballs in prepared baking dish, taking care to line them up snugly so that they are touching one another in even rows vertically and horizontally to form a grid. Transfer baking dish to oven. Bake until meatballs are firm and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center of a meatball reads 165 degrees.
• Meanwhile, heat tomato sauce in a small saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring frequently.
• Remove meatballs from oven and carefully drain excess grease from pan. Pour heated sauce over meatballs and return to oven; cook for 15 minutes more. Serve.