Sweet and Sour Meatballs (my family's ULTIMATE favorite!)

I could seriously make these once a week and my family would never get sick of them. This dish is soooooo yummy and for some reason we love to have broccoli as the side vegetable.

Before you get started on the meatballs, start cooking some rice. This is really good with brown rice.

You'll need:

1/2 medium onion, chopped and caramelized (start these about 15 minutes before so they have a chance to caramelize and cool) or you can use dried onions from the spice section

1 lb ground beef (it really doesn't matter if it is super lean or not because you will be draining the fat out)

1/2 c quick oats (old fashioned would work too)

1/2 tsp salt

2T wheat germ

1 tsp mustard

1 tsp Worcestershire sauce (I say it Wursh-ter-sher, I don't know if that is right or not but that's how they say it on the foodnetwork so it's law now;))

1 egg

Dash of milk

Caramelize the onions and while those are cooling be placing all ingredients in a mixing bowl. Combine everything. Place a frying pan on medium-high heat. Using a 1 Tablespoon measuring spoon form the meatballs. Once they are all formed place them in the frying pan and cook until browned then, using tongs, flip them over to brown the other side. While the other side is browning mix together the sweet and sour sauce below.

Sauce:

3/4 c Brown sugar

1/2 c BBQ sauce (I always use Kraft original)

1/2 c White vinegar

1 tsp mustard

1 tsp Worcestershire sauce

 

Whisk ingredients together.

Once the other side of the meatballs is browned pull out the meatballs, drain the fat, put the meatballs back in and pour in the sweet and sour sauce. It will sizzle (that's called "deglazing" where the sizzling is picking up all the extra goodness that is left over on the bottom of the pan so you don't have to scrape it up). Bring to a simmer and let it cook until the sauce is thick and the meatballs are cooked through. It doesn't take that long... about 5 minutes or so.

I've been keeping track of my calories lately so I now know the approximate nutrition information for just the meatballs and sauce.

Per meatball (all the sugar in the sauce makes for a higher calorie dinner but it is soooooo worth it:)):

79 calories

3.7 g fat

    1.4 saturated fat

13 mg cholesterol

9.9 g carbs

3.6 g protein