How to Make Orange Cranberry Beef Meatballs

Now, this sounds festive. Add a little zest to your meatballs for a holiday party to begin.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• (For the meatballs)
• 2lbs. ground beef
• 1 cup bread crumbs
• 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
• 2 teaspoons garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 3 teaspoons white cooking or rice wine
• 2 tablespoons of ketchup
• (For the orange cranberry sauce)
• 8oz. cranberry sauce, jellied
• 2 tablespoons packed brown sugar
• 1-1/2 cups BBQ sauce (any flavor, your choice)
• 1 teaspoon lime or lemon juice
• 4 tablespoons orange juice (no pulp)

1. Mix together the ground beef, bread crumbs, garlic powder, egg, soy sauce, ketchup, wine and pepper in a bowl. Use hands to form ground meat into balls (1-inch diameter). Let them set for 30 minutes. You can make this ahead of time and keep in the fridge until you are ready to bake them.

2. 
    
   Ground beef

   Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Place the meatballs in a large baking pan lined with wax paper or foil. Bake for 25 minutes or when a toothpick comes out clean of the meatballs.

3. 
    
   Cranberries

   Mean while, in a bowl, mix well together the barbecue sauce, cranberry sauce, lemon (or lime) juice, orange juice and brown sugar. Pour the contents into a saucepan over medium-low heat. Turn heat down to "simmer" after 2 minutes. Stir frequently and continuing simmer for 20 minutes or when the paste becomes smooth.

4. 
    
   Navel orange

   Take the meatballs out from the oven. Add the meatball into the saucepan. Cover with lid and have the meatballs simmer with the juices for another 20 minutes. Check time to time to make sure no burned food; sauce is sticking on the sides and pot bottom; stirring often. Transfer to serving plate and enjoy when hot.

Tips & Warnings

• You can use any meat of your choice instead of beef (i.e. turkey, pork, crab).
• Prepare and make meatballs ahead to save you time. Keep them in the freezer or fridge.

[luv2blog]

on 12/19/2008 Thanks for the recipe. I don't use breadcrumbs in mine but yours looks and sounds delicious!