Mini Meatballs With Cranberry Sauce

Submitted by Montana Heart Song

"Beef meat balls with crushed strawberry flavored mini wheats and cooked in a cranberry sauce. Serve as an appetizer or with a salad. I had some crushed cereal in the bottom of the sack and developed the recipe."

 

• Ready In: 2hrs 40mins
• Ingredients: 10
• Serves: 8-10

ingredients

• 2 lbs ground beef or 2 lbs ground turkey
• 2 1⁄2 cups crushed strawberry miniature shredded wheat cereal
• 2 teaspoons salt or 2 teaspoons salt substitute
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 1 tablespoon water
• 1⁄8 teaspoon basil
• 1 teaspoon Chinese five spice powder
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 (15 ounce) cans whole berry cranberry sauce
• 1⁄2 - 1 cup cranberry juice or 1/2-1 cup water

directions

1. Beat eggs with water until frothy in small bowl.
2. In large metal bowl add ground meat, crushed cereal and salt. mix well.
3. Add beaten eggs,basil and chinese 5 spice.
4. Mix until blended. I use my hands.
5. Preheat oven to 375.
6. Form into 2 inch meat balls.
7. Place on a baking tray.
8. Bake 20 to 30 minutes.
9. During baking turn over with tongs.
10. Cool.
11. In large crockpot,add 1 tblsp olive oil. Wipe it around the bottom and sides of the crockpot.
12. Add two cans of cranberry sauce or your homemade sauce.
13. Add meat balls.
14. Cover with cranberry sauce.
15. Cover and cook from 2 hrs to 6 hours High heat the first hour and low heat the remaining time. It is a make ahead recipe.
16. Add water or cranberry juice if the sauce is getting too thick.