Shooting Porcupine Meatballs

This recipe was posted by my friend Texasrose on the TOH bulletin board... and since i knew what she posts is always very good i made these littel spiky meatballs... People on the board know i have a thing for meatballs for some reason - but in reality i rarely cook them i just like the idea of them -lol
Before i continue this story you got to understand in Germany we don't use slow cookers or crockpots - they aren't heard of here... Just a tiny community that has been to the USA/Canada know it and have one that works with our voltage ... i had been looking for a slow cooker for a long time... then on ebay germany one popped up from a dutch dealer - brand new and i got it... perfect... so i printed at least a 100 recipes from the internet for my new crockpot to try. I only made a couple and then found Texasrose recipe ...
Anyway i had all the necessary ingredients in my pantry, started to work on it and had the silly idea that the meatballs should by browned in the skillet first - that's how you cook stove top - right... well not with a crockpot - it seemed odd to put them in there raw... without thinking ahead and further, i innocently stood next to the skillet when those darn meatballs or better the minute rice started to attack me or better said shot at me - i jumped around the pan to get those little hazardous goods into a safe spot... i was splatterd with grease and puffed up rice... it was a pic for candid camera.... exhausted and completly taken by surprise i threw the bombs in the crockpot and let them behave in there.... it was a dish that tasted so well and whenever i make them i have to laugh so hard remembering this chase around the stove... it was a good laugh also for the whole german corner the group i participate on the TOH board... geesh but this makes cooking interesting and gives you a chance to tell a story.... dear texasrose if you read this thank you very much for a great recipe and good fun !

But back to the recipe it is really good - very easy to make and there are many variations of this dish... It is something that started in the 1950's and had been at its peak in the 1970's... and still is a popular recipe in endless recipe boxes across north america!!

Have fun wiht this one i am sure you can even twist a gourmet version of them... Cheers Alissa


TexasroseII's Porcupine Meatballs

Meatballs
1/4 cup tomato sauce
1 pound lean beef
1 cup instant rice
1 egg
1/4 cup chopped onion
salt & pepper, to taste

Sauce
2 small cans tomato sauce (minus the 1/4 cup used in the meatballs)
3/4 cup water
1 16 ounce can diced tomatoes
dash garlic powder
2 shakes worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon sugar

Make meatballs with first 7 ingredients.

Make sauce with last 7 ingredients and simmer 30 mins.

Shape meatballs and place in crock pot on high for one to two hours. After the meatballs are set, pour sauce over all and continue to cook on low for 4 hours.

Note: you can do this in the oven too, just broil or bake the meatballs, place in casserole dish and pour sauce over all. Bake at 350 for about an hour to an hour and a half.