Meatballs

I used to hate making meatballs, even though my family loves them. Frying was a time consuming process and they stuck to the pan becoming meat sauce instead of the smooth spheres I anticipated. I am not really sure why I decided to bake them the first time I did: I must have read something somewhere sometime...

While they are baking (of course in my cast iron skillet) I shake the handle a few times to keep them rolling around. Then I add them to the sauce later while it is simmering. They take very little time and cleaning my pan is easy. Another reason I love cast iron.

Normally I just serve right from the skillet, it is the center of the table any average night at our house. On a whim last night I decided to pull out my favorite bowls. They were a gift from my sister and I am sorry to say rarely used. I am afraid of breaking them. I am not unique here -- who pulls out the china on a nightly basis?

My bowls are beautiful colors and shaped like leaves. I was so afraid of putting a chink in them -- one thing I would never waste a thought on when I serve from cast iron.

I know I am not the first to wonder why I squirrel away something, afraid to use it because I might damage it and then never really enjoy it.

I never admire the shape of my bowls while they are snugly tucked in the cupboard. Just as I never admire or enjoy all the other things in my life I want to bring out but I am afraid of damaging. What other items has God entrusted to me that I bury?

I think in the end I envision my grown children commenting as they set the Thanksgiving table "I have such fond memories of these bowls. I hope they hold the food with all their chips and cracks." Rather than "I didn't know you had anything like this."

Our favorite Meatballs: Mix -- Shape -- Bake in a cast iron skillet till golden
1 lb lean ground beef
handful old fashioned oats
handful of crushed saltines
salt, black pepper and crushed red pepper (to taste)
1 Tbl dehydrated onions
2 eggs