What are you cooking?

[fishorama]

Jay, if not rolled oats what do you use? Not the kind (steel cut?) that needs to maybe soak & cook a long time I'm thinking...I use rolled oats for breakfast with brown sugar sometimes & much less often, a couple kinds of cookies.

My husband nicely let me have the small amount of leftover meatloaf for lunch. Usually we share if there's enough or I let him have it for a sandwich if not. I used to like meatloaf sandwiches with mustard but not anymore. It's strange how tastes can change.

We're having spaghetti with a few meatballs I made yesterday. Both were frozen separately so I hope thawing & heating for a while works ok. I usually bake the meatballs & cook in sauce but this may taste almost as good

 

[Fishmanic]

How do you people make meatballs? Do you just bake in oven or do you cook on stove in sauce? I would think just baking would dry them out. Asking for a friend

 

[jaylach]

Jay, if not rolled oats what do you use? Not the kind (steel cut?) that needs to maybe soak & cook a long time I'm thinking...I use rolled oats for breakfast with brown sugar sometimes & much less often, a couple kinds of cookies.

But I DO use 'rolled oats', just not instant or quick. I'm talking the 20 minute stuff.

How do you people make meatballs? Do you just bake in oven or do you cook on stove in sauce? I would think just baking would dry them out. Asking for a friend

Actually deep frying works better for me than baking as it sears the outside keeping more moisture inside. Once mostly cooked I cut the balls in half and finish in the sauce for a couple of days under low heat.

 

[fishorama]

I make fairly small meatballs, say 1.25 inches. I bake them (as per my sil) at 350F for ~30 minutes. I make them with parmesan cheese, no milk. They're not dry & there's no need to turn them!! This is so much easier than browning in a skillet & constant turning & attention! I line a cookie sheet w/foil so clean up is easy too, a soapy rinse & done!

If you want bigger meatballs I'd go longer time & test cut 1 to see if it's cooked through or almost. They do cook in the sauce too; slightly pink is ok, raw red is not!

My parm meatballs recipe is:
! lb ground beef (ballpark) 80-85% lean
1/2 cup fine fresh bread crumbs (i use wheat, but whatever)
1/2 cup parm cheese (fresh grated or the shaker thing)
1 egg lightly beaten
2 TBSP very finely chopped onion
salt & pepper (say 1/4 teaspoon each?)

optional: 1 very small minced jalapeno pepper (or half if large, the bigger, the hotter!) A nice little zing

I don't add herbs, they're in the sauce, but you could

Wet (ish) hands make shaping balls easier.

 

[Fishmanic]

Once mostly cooked I cut the balls in half and finish in the sauce for a couple of days under low heat.

How’s your electric bill?

 

[fishorama]

Eek! I don't deep fry anything anymore. But if I did, I have solar panels, so no electric bill anxiety. I think Jay has his bill included in his rent, nice!

 

[jaylach]

I make fairly small meatballs, say 1.25 inches. I bake them (as per my sil) at 350F for ~30 minutes. I make them with parmesan cheese, no milk. They're not dry & there's no need to turn them!! This is so much easier than browning in a skillet & constant turning & attention! I line a cookie sheet w/foil so clean up is easy too, a soapy rinse & done!

If you want bigger meatballs I'd go longer time & test cut 1 to see if it's cooked through or almost. They do cook in the sauce too; slightly pink is ok, raw red is not!

My parm meatballs recipe is:
! lb ground beef (ballpark) 80-85% lean
1/2 cup fine fresh bread crumbs (i use wheat, but whatever)
1/2 cup parm cheese (fresh grated or the shaker thing)
1 egg lightly beaten
2 TBSP very finely chopped onion
salt & pepper (say 1/4 teaspoon each?)

optional: 1 very small minced jalapeno pepper (or half if large, the bigger, the hotter!) A nice little zing

I don't add herbs, they're in the sauce, but you could

Wet (ish) hands make shaping balls easier.

I like using an ice cream scoop if doing my own. For over a year now, I've been using pre-made balls from Omaha Steaks.

How’s your electric bill?

No electric bill. Included with my apartment. Also, if done in a crock pot, cooking a couple of days isn't that much. Also a sauce does not cook the entire time. It cooks 8-9 hours the first day then cools and goes in the fridge. Then another 8-9 hours cooking the next day.

 

[MattW]

Had some flapjack I forgot I bought yesterday from the bakers I forgot how good it is.