This is also a no-fail appetizer recipe.  Who'd think that mixing chili sauce and grape jelly together would create such a tasty and good sauce.  Enjoy.

Yes, you can buy it pre-made but there is nothing quite as good as making your own.  This simple recipe will surprise you with its yumminess!

On one Saturday morning while doing my grocery shopping at a St. Paul, MN grocery store, at the check-out I came across this little cookbook put out by Pillsbury.  The cover to that book is long gone for I've now had it for over 30 years...so I cannot tell you when it was published.  What I can tell you thought is that little cookbook was one of the best purchases I've made for so many recipes therein have become staples of my cooking repertoire.  This is one of those recipes.  It is a great as an appetizer before a dinner, as game day fare, or to accompany a Kenny Lysdahl Brandy Manhattan.

When looking at this recipe I was trying to remember who gave it to me...and I believe it did come from Diane Schuster.  It is delicious...perfect game day fare as well as great with a margarita (or two).

This recipe was given to me by a very dear friend many many years ago.  In fact, it is his mother's recipe...that was passed on to him and then to me.  The Green Bay Packers are playing this Thursday evening, so I decided to get this recipe out and make this for the evening's fun of watching great football.  Go Pack, Go!

This afternoon as I was gazing at press and hype and photos of the Green Bay Packers Family Night at Lambeau Field...I realized football season is just around the corner.  Go Pack!  Go!

As I began to daydream of football Sundays watching the Packers, I also began to think of food to serve.  These two recipes were given to me by a dear friend (Carol) from my AMD days.  She was originally from Madison, WI and also a big Packer fan.  So it is only right that I share these recipes from her for this year's football season.

This recipe is the culmination of many tries...most of which were good but did not quite capture the flavor I remembered of my Mother's recipe.  You can either do dinner sized meatballs or cocktail sized meatballs from this recipe.  Dinner sized will make about one dozen.  Cocktail sized will make closer to two dozen.  Enjoy.

MEATBALLS:
1 pound ground sirloin
1/2 pound ground pork
1 cup dry breadcrumbs
1 medium onion, minced
1 egg
2 heaping teaspoons sour cream
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg (or allspice)
1 1/2 teaspoon coarse ground sea salt
1/2 teaspoon coarse ground pepper
1/4 teaspoon dry mustard
1/4 teaspoon paprika
1 tablespoon freshly chopped parsley (1 tsp. dried)

GRAVY:
1 Can condensed French onion soup
1 can condensed golden mushroom soup
1 8-oz carton sour cream
1 small can mushroom slices (drained)

DIRECTIONS:
1.  Combine the ground sirloin and ground pork in a large bowl.  It is best to make sure they are well blended together before adding the rest of the ingredients.
2.  Add the rest of the meatball ingredients and combine well.  You are going to have to use your hands.
3.  When the ingredients are combined, form the meat mixture into a large "meatball".
4.  Using an ice cream scoop (dinner sized meatballs) or melon ball scoop (cocktail sized meatballs), scoop off portions of meat mixture and form into meatballs.  You will have to use your hands.  Place each formed meatball on a plate.  Set the bowl that held the meatball mixture aside.
5.  When you have made the meatballs, spray bottom of large skillet with non-stick spray.
6.  Heat the skillet over medium heat and brown the meatballs in batches and as they are browned, set aside.
7.  The meatball mixture bowl (#4 above)...in this bowl combine all of the gravy ingredients...this will be the gravy.
8.  When you have finished browning the meatballs, add the "gravy" to the pan and deglaze using a wooden spatula.  Heat until the gravy is just starting to bubble.
9.  Add the meatballs to the gravy, cover pan tightly, and simmer over low medium heat for 25 to 30 minutes or until cooked through.

Enjoy.

Merry Christmas!

A good friend game me this recipe many years ago.  It has become a staple of my holiday entertaining:

Quite by accident I stumbled upon the idea of making my own snack mix by simply utilizing two to three different types of snacks found in your local grocery store.  It seems, so far, that the biggest hit with my friends is:

1 pkg. Origin Chex Mix snacks
1 pkg. puffed rice snacks (white cheddar cheese)
1 pkg. good quality caramel corn

Combine all in a large serving bowl and serve.  Easy.  Enjoy.