I have been tasked with bringing a crockpot mini-meal to my friends bridal shower next week. One problem... I never made a crockpot mini-meal! And I can't just follow a standard recipe. You should know me by now. 😉
So I decided to use my unsuspecting extended family over Easter weekend as guinea pigs and I whipped up an idea I had for a few weeks. Thankfully Mom was here to make some suggestions. The result was a hit and I'll be eating the leftovers for lunch over the next few days. 🙂
There is one teeny tiny problem and you may have guessed it if you've been reading my blog for some time. Whenever I tack on the word "Idea" to a title that means I didn't really measure anything. I tried. I really did but making this for the very first time I just had to go with it.
I still like to share these "Ideas" and I hope they give you some of your own. I will be making this again soon and I'll be jotting down a few notes to give you more specifics. In the mean time all you experimenters out there have fun. 🙂
This is what I did with as much details as I can provide...
Ingredients
- 1 20oz package of lean ground turkey
- 1 cup Old Fashion Oats
- 1 egg
- 2 cloves of garlic
- 1 inch of fresh ginger root (preferably frozen so you can grate)
- 1 8oz can of crushed pineapple
- 1 15oz can of chicken broth
- About 5 dried apricots
- Honey (I used about 1 tablespoon but went by taste)
- Molasses (I used about 1 tablespoon but went by taste)
- 1 sweet bell pepper chopped (I used a mix of red and orange)
- 1 red onion chopped
Instructions
Preheat the broiler.
Add the turkey, oatmeal, and egg in a large bowl. Grate in 1 clove of the garlic and ½ of the ginger. Combine together with your hands and form the meatballs. Try to keep them on the small side.
Brown the meatballs on a cookie sheet under the broiler.
While the meatballs are in the oven, add the remaining clove of garlic and ginger root, the pineapple, chicken broth, honey and molasses to the blender. Blend on high until smooth.
By this time the meatballs should be brown. Add them to the crockpot, along with the onion, peppers and pineapple mixture. I cooked on high for about 4 hours and then lowered low until we were ready to eat, about 2 more hours. I think they were down after 3. At least that's when I tried them. 🙂
I served this over rice for a dinner but we'll be eating them straight up for the shower.
What I'll do different next time...
- Measure, of course! That way I can do nutritional info
- Add more garlic. I'm thinking at least 2 cloves in the meatballs and 2 in the "gravy".
Any other ideas? Anyone make anything similar?
📖 Recipe
Sweet Mini Meatball Idea
Ingredients
- 1 20 oz package of lean ground turkey
- 1 cup Old Fashion Oats
- 1 egg
- 2 cloves of garlic
- 1 inch of fresh ginger root preferably frozen so you can grate
- 1 8 oz can of crushed pineapple
- 1 15 oz can of chicken broth
- About 5 dried apricots
- Honey I used about 1 tablespoon but went by taste
- Molasses I used about 1 tablespoon but went by taste
- 1 sweet bell pepper chopped I used a mix of red and orange
- 1 red onion chopped
Instructions
- Preheat the broiler.
- Add the turkey, oatmeal, and egg in a large bowl. Grate in 1 clove of the garlic and ½ of the ginger. Combine together with your hands and form the meatballs. Try to keep them on the small side.1 20 oz package of lean ground turkey, 1 cup Old Fashion Oats, 1 egg, 2 cloves of garlic, 1 inch of fresh ginger root, About 5 dried apricots
- Brown the meatballs on a cookie sheet under the broiler.
- While the meatballs are in the oven, add the remaining clove of garlic and ginger root, the pineapple, chicken broth, honey and molasses to the blender. Blend on high until smooth.2 cloves of garlic, 1 inch of fresh ginger root, 1 8 oz can of crushed pineapple, 1 15 oz can of chicken broth, Honey, Molasses
- By this time the meatballs should be brown. Add them to the crockpot, along with the onion, peppers and pineapple mixture. I cooked on high for about 4 hours and then lowered low until we were ready to eat, about 2 more hours. I think they were down after 3. At least that's when I tried them. 🙂1 8 oz can of crushed pineapple, 1 sweet bell pepper chopped, 1 red onion chopped
roni
Oh My! Yes... I can't believe I forgot to mention them! Sorry about that.
Bridget
What do you do with the apricots in the Sweet Mini Meatball Idea? Cut up, put in the blender? Thanks
Jennie
mini meatballs in cranberry sauce (homemade, would be really good! I use the can..) and picante sauce. I am sure you can experiment with this general idea. Maybe apricot jelly...
roni
You're right.. the crock pot isn't necessary but it's what gave me the idea. Funny how that works. 🙂
Do you have any other "secret" ingredients?
Sally Massey
I make something extremely similar-no need for a crock pot.
They are called Waikiki Meatballs. As an appetizer you can take the time to toothpick each meatball with a small piece of pineapple.Everyone always loves them.
Erin at The Healthy Apron
http://thehealthyapron.com/2010/04/06/the-fresh-market-4510.aspx
Brief mention but I will mention you again tomorrow!
Debbi
I love meatballs, I don't tend to put them in the crockpot as they always seem to fall apart on me. I think the problem is me, not the crockpot though!
Tonyne @ The Unlikely Success Story
Yum. That is all. I almost want to have a little party, just so I can make this.