"Growing up Southern is a privilege, really. It's more than where you're born - it's an idea, a state of mind that seems imparted at birth. It's more than loving fried chicken, sweet tea, high school football, country music, and acoustic guitars. It's being hospitable, being devoted to front porches, magnolias, the good Lord, and each other. We don't become Southern - we're born that way."

5.20.2011

Porcupine Balls!

A few months ago I read a really cute book called Muffins & Mayhem by Suzanne Beecher. It was full of little stories about the author's life, as well as lots of recipes. I had checked it out from the library, but I then bought a copy from Amazon so that I'd have all the recipes. I keep it with my cookbooks! Tonight I made two recipes from this book and wanted to share them with you all.

Porcupine Balls (I don't know what the kids like better; eating this dish or saying the name!)

1 pound ground beef
1/2 cup uncooked rice
1/2 cup water
1/3 cup chopped onion
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp celery salt
1/8 tsp garlic powder
1/8 tsp pepper
1 (15 oz) can tomato sauce
1 cup water
2 tsp Worcestershire Sauce

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix meat, rice, 1/2 cup water, onion, salts, garlic powder, & pepper. Shape mixture into meatballs. Place meatballs in ungreased baking pan. Stir remaining ingredients together and pour over meatballs. Cover and bake for 45 minutes. Uncover and bake 15 minutes longer.

{I doubled this recipe and used 1 lb. of ground beef & 1 lb. of ground turkey. It made 42 meatballs. They were off the chain! I served them with roasted asparagus and garlic toast.}


And for dessert....

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 cup butter (2 sticks), softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup light brown sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
3 cups oatmeal
1-2 cups chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Mix the flour, baking soda, and salt together. Mix remaining ingredients with the flour mixture, then add chocolate chips. Roll into balls & place on cookie sheet. Bake for 10-12 minutes, until cookies are light brown. Cool & share!


I was not compensated in any way for this post - just sharing good recipes!