Where did the spaghetti go to dance?

The meatBALL! (duh...) Super Bowl Sunday. I'm still not sure why it's not a National Holiday, and why we have to work on Monday. But until that changes, there's always going to be hours of eating, awesome commercials, and bad referee calls. This post is all about balls- and not footballs. But glorious balls of meat, beef to be exact. New Boston Beef Balls. Check out a previous post about 3 things to do with ground beef for a traditional meat ball recipe- this post is for something a bit different that is sure to impress your guests no matter what team you're routing for for the big game!

The easiest way to serve meatballs is from a crock pot, you can keep them warm the entire game, and people can just serve themselves without a huge production. I like to make my meatballs with an ice-cream scoop to ensure they are all the same size and cook evenly. For cocktail meatballs, 1 ounce meatballs are great for mini grinders, and half ounce-ers are great for picking up with a toothpick. Crank your crock up to high, and make your sauce right in the pot, and scoop your meatballs right into the hot sauce to cook!

Each recipe is for 1 pound- or 16- 1 ounce balls. Open up ground beef, and season with salt and pepper- "fluff" meat with a fork to combine, and then form balls to your choice of size into your sauce.

Sweet and Sour Meatballs

1 jar Heinz Chile Sauce

1/2 jar your favorite Grape Jelly

-Trust me. Just do it. It's the perfect combination of sweet and spicy, with a touch of sour. You really can't pick out the flavor that it's grape, it just adds a little somethin' somethin'. Melt the sauce together in your crock first, and then add the meatballs- simmer for about 45 minutes. You'll be drooling over the smell when they are about done!

Whiskey Balls- don't giggle. They are delicious.

1/2 cup ketchup

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup whiskey or bourbon (we love Jack or Maker's Mark)

2 tsp lemon juice

1 tbs Worcestershire Sauce

Drop meatballs into this delicious sauce.

Asian Style Meatballs

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 tbsp grated ginger

1scallion, minced

1 egg

1 tbs honey

2 tbs ketchup

3 tbs soy sauce

3 tbs chili paste

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

1 tsp sesame oil

1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs

Depending on your style of cooking, you may need to do a little shopping- I love Asian food, so these items are in my pantry at all times. Mix all these ingredient to form your meatballs (they will be a little on the wet side, and that's okay) and bake on a parchment lined cookie sheet for about 20 minutes at 375 degrees. While in the oven, make the glaze.

2-4 tbs of chili paste- depending on your heat desire!

1/4 cup of honey

2 tbs ketchup

2 tbs rice vinegar

1 tbs sesame oil

1 tbs soy sauce

Cook all these together over medium heat in a small pot. Bring to a boil, and reduce until thick, about 5 minutes. Remove meatballs from oven, brush with glaze, and garnish with seeds and scallions, serve with toothpicks!

Beef, Beer and BBQ

2 cups of your favorite BBQ sauce

1 can of beer

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 tsp chili powder

Form meatballs, and drop into this mixture that will reduce and make a delicious sauce!