Sweet and Sour Meatballs

Perhaps one of the most common dishes for pot-luck dinners is a nice big crock pot full of sweet and sour meatballs.  Funny thing is, there are SO many different ways to make not only the meatballs, but so many, MANY recipes for the sauce! You can have 4 different crocks of sweet and sour meatballs on the table, and have all 4 be completely different from each other.

I think everyone pretty much has a "go to" meatball recipe that they use, but just in case someone is looking for one, or they are making meatballs for the first time, here is my standard recipe.  The trick is to be patient with the frying.  You rush them, they burn. 

1 lb ground beef
1 lb ground pork
1 finely chopped onion
1 lg egg
1/2 c oatmeal
salt and pepper, liberally sprinkled on
 1/2 tsp. garlic powder (or fresh minced garlic, if you have)
1 tsp. parsley flakes
1/2 c b-b-sauce
2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce

Mix the above ingredients very well.  This mixture should be slightly moist; enough to stick together, but not runny.  Form into balls about 3/4" in diameter. 
Heat frying pan on medium, coat lightly with olive oil (helps prevent sticking)
Place meatballs in a single layer in frying pan, careful not to crowd them.  Fry for a few minutes on the one side, then starting with the first meatballs place in the pan, turn them over individually in order to ensure proper cooking.  You may have to move the meatballs around a bit to make sure they are entirely cooked.  You want your meatballs dark (very slightly crispy), but not burned.
When they're done, remove to your crock pot or to a large casserole dish. 
Repeat til all meatballs are cooked.

The Sauce:

This is my absolute all time favorite sauce. And yes, there is NO ketchup in it.  Super easy to make; guaranteed to get a lot of compliments.  Every time I make this particular recipe, I get asked for the recipe!
1 1/2 c brown sugar, packed  (dark brown is best)
3/4 vinegar
1 tbsp. dry mustard powder (in a pinch, I have thrown in a squirt of prepared yellow mustard instead)
2 tbsp. flour
3/4 c water

Mix this together, pour over meatballs.  THAT'S IT.  Let this simmer for an hour or so, the sauce will thicken the longer it sits. 


My Cheater I'm desperately-in-a-hurry Sauce:

Combine one can of condensed tomato soup with 1 cup of brown sugar. Add one can of water, and a tsp. of Worcestershire Sauce.  If you don't happen to have this, it will be fine without.  This recipe is for the desperate times you need to throw something together! It's actually very good, especially once the meatballs simmer in this for a while!