Meatballs 101

Off to IKEA this morning [at last! been trying to manage this on a Monday for weeks, but we’ve been very busy with funerals and stuff]

Did not spend too much – Bob got some Candles for the Church Advent services. I treated myself to a new piping bag and nozzles – my frugal attempts to economise with a plastic sandwich bag haven’t really worked. [£4.99 as opposed to Lakeland £10.99]

And in the food section, I bought a bag of meatballs

Lynn mentioned in her post on Saturday that she had just eaten them for the first time. I love them – and usually buy a bag when I go [two bags if there’s an offer]

I always used to cook them in the oven – but of late have sometimes used my mate Rachel’s suggestion and heated them speedily in the microwave. But I love them for their versatility. So for Lynn, and other IKEA Meatball Newbies, here are some alternative ways of serving

• SWEDISH As per the shop - with chips/boiled potatoes, and a spoonful of lingonberry jam. You can buy the pukka IKEA cream sauce, or just stir a spoonful of cream or natural yogurt into gravy!
• ITALIAN Heated through in a tomato sauce [homemade or from a Dolmio-type jar] and served over pasta
• CHINESE With a sweet and sour sauce [again home-made or jar] with rice on the side
• LEBANESE Cook the meatballs on wooden BBQ skewers with peppers, cubed aubergines, tomatoes, onions etc and serve over couscous.
• TURKISH Cook and serve with dips of mint&yogurt, hummus, some pitta bread, and a green salad, mezze-style
• ENGLISH Serve with buttery mashed potatoes, peas and carrots, and rich brown gravy
• IRISH Make a ‘beef’ casserole, using meatballs and a can of Guinness, mixed veg, and finish with dumplings or a scone/cobbler topping.

We saw Carole and John [Rachel’s MIL & FIL] in the store. Will look forward to hearing what they purchased! Like Lynn, I also bought napkins. More about them later in the week…

[btw that strange U-shaped object on the piping bag picture is a cake slicer, not an instrument of torture]