Surprise Cocktail Meatballs

This is an adaption of a recipe that I once found online, but have been unable to find it again.

• Ready In: 55 mins
• Serves: 10
• Yields: 40 Meatballs

Ingredients

• Meatball Ingredients

• 1  lb ground beef
• 1  lb ground pork
• 1⁄2 cup  breadcrumbs
• 1⁄4 cup  finely chopped onion
• 2  tablespoons  minced parsley
• 1⁄2 teaspoon  dried marjoram leaves
• 1⁄4 teaspoon salt
• 1⁄8 teaspoon black pepper
• 1⁄8 teaspoon ground sage
• 1  large  egg white (lightly beaten)
• 40  chestnuts or 40  pecan halves (optional) or 40  pieces cheese (optional)

• Sauce Ingredients

• 1  cup  apple juice
• 2⁄3 cup  firmly packed dark brown sugar
• 1⁄2 cup red wine
• 8  tablespoons cornstarch
• 2  tablespoons  lower sodium soy sauce
• 1⁄2 teaspoon garlic powder

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350.
2. Mix the beef, pork breadcrumbs, onion, parsley, marjoram, salt, sage, pepper, and egg white in a large bowl.
3. Divide into about 40 pieces.
4. Wrap each piece around the desired "surprise". (optional).
5. Place the meatballs in a baking pan and bake for 15-20 minutes or until the meatballs are no longer pink.
6. Whisk together the apple juice, brown sugar, wine, corn starch, soy sauce and garlic poweder.
7. Bring to a boil and cook for 2 minutes until thickened (stirring often).
8. Drain meatballs.
9. Place meatballs and sauce in a crockpot and simmer.
10. Serve with cocktail forks or toothpicks.