Meatballs for the Whole Family

I wrote a post several weeks ago for Baby Meatballs from my "Super Baby Food" book. I like that receipie because it is easy and fast, but I wanted to try something on Little Joy that we (her parents) would also give high ratings on! As I make my two week "menu" for what we will eat for dinner, I usually ask my husband for any special requests. He asked for spaghetti with meatballs. I have never made them before I thought "whew, the seem hard". NOT THE CASE! When we sampled these meatballs, I KNEW Little Joy would give it a Yummy In the Tummy, and that she did. This recipe comes from Rachel Ray on FoodNetwork.com (I have only tested the meatballs so far, but plan to try the sauce soon).

Serve this for the whole family by tossing with your favorite spaghetti sauce!!!

Ingredients:

• 1 pound ground beef
• 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce, eyeball it
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1/2 cup Italian bread crumbs, a couple of handfuls
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan, Parmigiano-Reggiano or Romano cheese
• 2 cloves garlic, chopped
• Salt and pepper (I omit salt from most of my recipes particularly those Little Joy will be eating)

Steps:

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
2. Beat eggs slightly in medium-large bowl.
3. Mix in beef and Worcestershire, bread crumbs, cheese, garlic, salt and pepper.
4. Roll meat into 1 1/2 inch medium-sized meatballs (or whatever size your prefer really) and place on nonstick cookie sheet or a cookie sheet greased with extra-virgin olive oil.
5. Bake balls 10 to 12 minutes, until no longer pink.

Yield: 32 medium meatballs

Serve: Serve mashed up or cut into pieces appropriate for the age of your child. You can serve them alone along with some veggies OR mash/cut up and toss with some spaghetti (recipe review coming soon for spaghetti).

Timing: Beef is better left until 10 months. These should turn out fairly soft so if your little one can grind with his teeth some, then they should be ready to sample this food! As always, just watch your little one the first time they try a new food to ensure they are not having trouble swallowing/managing the food.

Storage: Freezer for about a month; fridge for a couple of days.

Miscellaneous: Little Joy has had these plain AND in spaghetti...either way she loved it.

Difficulty: 2 out of 5...easy, easy!!!

Epicutie Rating: Yummy In the Tummy (see right side of page for descriptions) Little Joy gobbles this up no matter how you serve it up!!!

Ingredients

Step 3: Meat mixture before forming into balls

Step 4: Shape into balls. I cooked mine on a silpat (here is one similar to mine)--I love using this anytime I bake!!!