Give me a Yeehaw!

I have been wanting to participate in the Cook Like A Star blogging event but somehow it never happened until today despite the event going on for awhile already.  I find it a good introduction to dishes by quite a few celebrity chefs, some that i only got to know through this event :)

It's Ree Drummond this month, and I managed to try out one dish this time.  Ree lives on a working ranch, it must be wonderful to cook and bake like her with the luxury of having the freshest ingredients.  She reminds me of tv drama series like Little House on the Prairie and Dallas evoking memories of times when the family will crowd around the tv waiting for a new episode every week.  Those were the days when we had only 3 channels to choose from and now we have God knows how many. I like her way of presenting each recipe, her step by step tutorial has large photos accompanying them (besides some humorous remarks) making it easy to follow and good for crosschecking if one is on the right track.

I tried out what Ree named as BBQ Comfort Meatballs.   Comforting food for lunch on a lazy Sunday afternoon, couldn't be better.  Besides, oats was on the ingredients list, I couldn't miss this chance to sneak some into my men's diet (got you my men, cunning smile on mummy's face...) 

The steps are easy except for the frying part, not difficult but not something i like doing or serving at home.  I made do with shallow frying.  These meatballs turned out delicious, soft and tender, meatloaf kind of texture and smelt really good.

My son was quite skeptical about the initial pairing of the meatballs with some greens and crusty french bread toasted with butter.  "Just this? " the young man questioned.

So, mummy went back to the kitchen and quickly made a second pairing for the starving young man who just got home from his Taekwando session.   And cowboy meal turned oriental with some instant egg noodles!  Those air dried type where all you need is to cook them al dente in some boiling water.  Toss them with a little shallot oil, a drizzle of soy sauce and a dash of salt and pepper.  Actually, Ree did suggest serving them with egg noodles tossed in melted butter as an option but i am not too sure if this is what she meant and the chinese in me gave the noodles an oriental drizzle instead.    Hmm, i wonder what will the cowboys say to this?  Funny, how i imagine them laughing until they fall off their chairs, err no, horses i mean :)  Jokes aside, i got a Yeehaw from my young man.  He happily polished it clean on top of adding another 2 meatballs to it.   Maybe, just maybe cowboys will give this pairing a Yeehaw too!

Recipe

Source : Ree Drummond (The Pioneer Woman Cooks)

Note : Notes in blue are for half the recipe (which i made) and my variations

Ingredients

For Meatballs

• 1-1/2 pound Ground Beef (350g minced pork)
• 3/4 cups Oats (1/3 cup)
• 1 cup Milk (1/2 cup)
• 3 Tablespoons Very Finely Minced Onion (2 tbsp from 1 big onion)
• 1-1/2 teaspoon Salt (1/2 tsp)
•  Plenty Of Ground Black Pepper, to taste

 For Cooking Meatballs

• 1 cup All-Purpose Flour (coating For Frozen Meatballs)-(1/2 cup)
•  Canola Oil

 For Sauce

• 1 cup Ketchup (1/2 cup)
• 2 Tablespoons Sugar (1 tbsp)
• 3 Tablespoons Vinegar (1 tbsp)
• 2 Tablespoons Worcestershire (1 tsbp)
• 4 Tablespoons (to 6 Tablespoons) Onion (remainder from onion left after adding to meatballs)
• 1 dash Tabasco (1 tbsp chilli sauce)

Steps

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees (190C).
2. Combine all meatball ingredients. Roll into medium-small balls and place on a cookie sheet. Place sheet in freezer for five minutes.
3. After 5 minutes, remove meatballs from freezer and immediately dredge in unseasoned flour.
4. Brown meatballs in canola oil until just brown. Place into a baking dish.
5. Combine all sauce ingredients. Pour over meatballs and bake at 350 degrees (190C) for 45 minutes. Serve with egg noodles, mashed potatoes, or crusty French bread.

I'm linking this post to Cook Like a Star, an event co-hosted by Zoe of Bake for Happy Kids, Baby Sumo of Eat Your Heart Out and Mich of Piece of Cake.