Sweet Italian Sausage Meatballs

I must admit, spaghetti is probably my least favorite food, but my family LOVES it.  Meatballs, however are another story.  I cannot get enough! I have made several different kinds of meatballs over the years; turkey, beef, pork and a combination.  Out of all of them, I prefer sweet Italian sausage meatballs.

Sweet Italian sausage (the good stuff anyway) isn’t found at Wal-Mart or in the freezer section of any grocery store.  It is made by the grocery store and found in the fresh meat section.  In Iowa, I can only find “Sweet Italian Sausage” at one store and luckily I only live a block away as I love to use this sausage instead of ground chuck. 

Family Foods is our local grocery store here in Tipton, Iowa and coincidentally it was also the local grocery store in the small town where I grew up.  My son, Jake works at the one in Tipton and did work at the one in my home town prior to us moving.  Love the store, but watch your prices, some items can be well above what you might pay compared to Wal-Mart, but if you are anything like me, I like to shop local rather than give my money to large corporation who care only for their profits rather than their employees and customers.  Family Foods meat department is amazing and resonable!  Plus the quality surpases that of Wal-Mart every single day.  They also sell a "Pit Ham"  that my mother and I swear by.   

Sweet Italian Sausage Meatballs

What you need….

1 Sweet Onion, diced

5 cloves of Garlic, minced

2 pounds Sweet Italian Sausage

2 Eggs

½ cup Milk

Worcestershire Sauce

Red Pepper Flakes

Black Pepper

Salt

Garlic Powder

Onion Powder

Seasoning Salt

Parsley

Basil

Bread Crumbs

Dice your onion and garlic.  I like to dice veggies fine due to a picky daughter who thinks because my mother doesn't eat certain things, she shouldn't either.  I started disguising them in sauces she loves and telling her after the fact they were in there.

Add eggs.

Add the rest of the seasoning ingredients and mix well.

Then add your sausage.

Lastly, add your breadcrumbs.

Mix well.  I use a wooden spoon but a lot of people like to use their hands to really work everything together.

Make into bite size meatballs.  There is nothing worse than trying to eat spaghetti with meatballs too big to fit in your mouth.  It might take a bit more time to make them smaller as their will be more to make, but your dinner guests or family will appreciate it!

Bake at 400 degrees until the tops begin to turn brown.

Transfer meatballs from oven directly into your pot of sauce and continue to simmer.  If you aren't sure if they are done or not, the best advice is to cut one in half to see.  I make my own sauce, but not everyone has that much time.  Meatballs are a great way to turn a store bought sauce into a labor of love for your family!

Seasoning amounts are missing from this recipe and pretty much all of my recipes because:

1. I don't measure anything except for when I bake (and sometimes not even then).
2. Each person enjoys different amounts of flavor. 

I am a smoker.  I know for shame, for shame, but that means my taste buds aren't as aware as non-smokers.  Needless to say, BOLD FLAVOR is how I cook.  With meatballs, 1-2 teaspoons is probably plenty for each.  Less on the spicy seasonings if you prefer a mild flavor.