Foodie Friday: Ham Balls

Welcome to the first Foodie Friday of February. February is considered the month of love due to the observation of St. Valentine’s Day. In my world, food equivocates love. When I am at a loss for how to help someone in a time of need, celebrate an achieved goal, or show someone I care, food is my go-to for a demonstration of affection. If I invite you to my home for dinner, it is because I think highly of you. I don’t cook for just anyone. If you have a birthday, I cook your favorite meal because I care, and you deserve to be celebrated. Be it a healthy perception of food or not, food is how I show I care.

We have a practice here at The Smiling Goat Soap Company. If you are part of our soap family and work to help us, I feed you. Our little company cannot offer a lot of perks at this point, but I will feed you well and give you all the free products you desire. Raylee, Jordan’s best friend who helps us out two days a week during the school year, eats dinner with us twice a week. My friend, Jenna, who helps us out in many ways, eats dinner with us almost every night unless she has “Jenna things” to do. I enjoy cooking for Ray and Jenna. They are family. Cooking dinner is a task that must be done almost every day, so I feed the people I care about and who take care of me.

Jenna and Raylee love ham balls. Last night, they were both here helping us out, so I made ham balls for dinner with scalloped potatoes and green beans. I enjoy making food my “family” enjoys. It’s the least I can do for two people who are always there for us when we need them. Today, I will share my recipe for ham balls. I cook them in the crockpot, so clean up is very easy. Dinner cooks while I go about my day, and I don’t have to worry about setting off the fire alarm by cooking them too long. This recipe was popular with everyone. The Bibbed Wonder declared it to be “share-worthy.”

Ham Balls

Ingredients:

2 lbs. Ground Ham

1 lb. Ground Pork

½ lb. Ground Beef

1 Egg

½ Cup Milk

1 Cup Unseasoned Bread Crumbs

1 Small onion, diced

1 Tbls. Ground Mustard

½ tsp. Ground Pepper

Sauce:

2 Cans Tomato Soup

¼ Cup Water

6 Tbls. Apple Cider Vinegar

¾ Cup Brown Sugar

2 Tbls. Dijon Mustard

Directions:

-Mix meats, egg, milk, onion, bread crumbs, and spices in a large bowl. I used my hands to mix thoroughly.

-Form meat mixture into medium-sized meatballs.

-Place the meatballs in a treated slow cooker.

-In a separate bowl, mix all the ingredients for the sauce.

-Pour over the meatballs in the crockpot.

-Cover and cook on low for 5-6 hours.

Serve hot with scalloped or mashed potatoes and a green vegetable to round out the meal. It doesn’t get any easier or more delicious than this recipe.

At the end of a long day, everyone leaves with a full stomach and, hopefully, a feeling of appreciation. It does not escape me that we cannot do what we do without the help of these two hardworking, responsible, kind-hearted girls. If making a meal they love puts a smile on their face, it is the least I can do.

On this lovely winter Friday, stay safe, be smart, enjoy good food, care for those you love, and keep washing your hands.