Porcupine balls

A ONE PAN WONDER  

  Time to start thinking about what to have for dinner - ugh.

I don't plan my evening meals every week. Usually, I check what is fresh and seasonal and then I plan a few meals. Sometimes I make something, like roast chicken, and reincarnate the meat into different dishes until my husband and the kids scream "No more chicken!" A stir-fry is a great way to use up the lone carrot, 1/2 an onion or pepper, and the odd broccoli crown. I like to prepare something the night before and finish it when I get home from work the next day. That makes  me feel like I saved time even though I stayed late in the kitchen to prepare today's meal.

      One of my favorite things to do is to have a single pan meal. Skillet lasagna, rice cooker chicken biriyani, Indonesian nasi, or porcupine balls taste good and free me up to do more things. These dishes please kids and my husbands refined palate.  Tonight we are having porcupine balls.

Serves 4

Preheat oven to 375 degrees

• 1 lb ground beef
• 2 cups cooked rice (I prefer basmati)
• 1 small onion finely chopped
• 1 garlic clove finely chopped
• 1/4 cup catsup
• 1 tsp basil
• 1/2 tsp oregano
• 1 tblsp dried parsley
• 1 tsp red pepper flakes
• 1 28 oz can of tomato sauce

1. In a large bowl combine all of the ingredients except the tomato sauce and mix well.Form balls a larger than meatballs.
2. Grease, or spray with non-stick, a 9 x 13 rectangular pan. Place the meatballs in the dish then pour the sauce over the meatballs. 
3. Cover the dish with aluminum foil and place in the oven for 35 minutes. If you make large meatballs the cooking time may be longer. 

 The trick to making delicious porcupine balls is to keep it simple and don't try to "improve" the recipe. Don't try to make the sauce more gourmet. This is a tasty dish that shines best in its simplicity: ground beef, onion, garlic, rice, canned tomato sauce, herbs. That's it - fuss with the recipe at your own risk! Mix the meat, onion, garlic and season it with herbs, salt and pepper. Add the rice and make meatballs and place in a deep long baking pan. Pour canned tomato sauce (DO NOT USE PREPARED TOMATO SAUCE) around the meatballs and cover the pan with foil.

You also need patience, 35 minutes in the oven at 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Resist the temptation to lift the foil to look at the concoction. Play "Just Dance" with the kids and, voila, dinner cooks itself.

     Don't forget to make some veggies or salad to complete the meal.

     A Chianti tastes nice with this :)