Red, White, [Black] and Blue Balls

When it comes to patriotism, Americans either sell products that exploit it for 364 days a year, or bash others for lack of it.

But when it comes to The Big Day, we like to get drunk, and blow stuff up.

BlatherWatch always tries to offer a recipe that appeals to whatever Independence Day instinct you may have.

(photo: patriotic man-thong)

Some blasts from Blathering Independence Days past: Zell Miller's Red, White & Blue Ham Pie; Senator Slade Gorton's Warm Crab Dip; Cindy McCain's Patriotic Twinkie™ Pie or last year's Red, White and Blueberry Firecracker Hotdog Potato Salad.

Red, White, Black, and Blue [Meat] Balls

It's meat balls with red meat, white onions, blue cheese... and some black powder for fun! (Warnings: Blue foods can act as appetite suppressants. As with last year's Firecracker Potato Salad - no smoking!)

Ingredients:

Caramelized blueberry onions:
1 large onion
1-tablespoon butter
1-tablespoon vegetable oil
1-tablespoon light brown sugar
cup blueberries

Meatballs:
1- pounds ground chuck
2 tablespoons red onion
cup pureed blueberries
cup dry bread crumbs
1 large egg
teaspoon ground nutmeg
teaspoon ground cinnamon
teaspoon ground cumin
2 tablespoons Cabernet Sauvignon
teaspoon salt
tablespoon imported (Chinese) gun powder
Eight ounces blue cheese crumbles

Directions:
To make the caramelized onions, combine onion, butter, oil, brown sugar and blueberries in a 10-inch non-stick skillet. Cook the onion mixture for 15-20 minutes over med-high heat, stirring occasionally until the onions are caramelized and most of the liquid is evaporated. Remove from stove and set aside.
To make the meatballs, combine ground chuck, onion, blueberries, bread crumbs, egg nutmeg, cinnamon, cumin, wine, salt and gun powder. Mix meat well without over mixing.
With a med scoop or tablespoon, scoop up even portions of mixture and form into bite-size meatballs. Place meatballs in oven-safe pan and cook at 350 for 15 to 20 minutes, until done. During the final few minutes of cooking, place caramelized onions over meatballs and bake until bubbling. Remove from oven and top with blue cheese and serve immediately.
Makes 6 servings of 3-4 meatballs each.

Comments

[Dudley Ford]

we'll be having cheese balls this year.

[sparky]

Since my stash of gunpowder is not imported, I will leave it out of the recipe and try these anyway...I will have to dig out my recipe for Blueberry Salsa and send it to you, Bla'M. We had gorgonzola burgers last night but I didn't use some of those spice. I will try it next time!!

[KOMO kid]

We prefer nuts to balls.