Drink: Cocktail Meatballs

According to Southern tradition, the hostess at a ladies' luncheon should serve little meatballs in a chafing dish or on a platter with toothpicks as a satisfying snack for any men in attendance. The recipe here is by Debra Shaw, the cafeteria manager at

Ingredients

5 slice packaged white sandwich bread
1 c. milk
3 large eggs
1 small white onion
1 tbsp. salt
2 tsp. sweet paprika
1 tsp. dry mustard
1/2 tsp. Freshly ground black pepper
1/2 tsp. ground mace
2 lb. lean ground beef
vegetable oil
1 c. ketchup
1/2 c. currant jelly
1/2 c. dry sherry
1 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce

Instructions

Preheat the broiler. In a large bowl, soak the bread in the milk for 1 minute, until softened. Squeeze out the excess milk and return the bread to the bowl. Add the eggs, onion, salt, paprika, dry mustard, pepper, and mace and mix until smooth. Add the ground beef and mix until evenly combined.
Brush a large rimmed baking sheet with oil. Using a 2-tablespoon-size ice cream scoop, form the meat into 1 1/2-inch balls; roll until smooth. Transfer the meatballs to the baking sheet and brush the tops with oil. Broil 10 inches from the heat for about 10 minutes, shifting the sheet occasionally, until the meatballs are sizzling and browned.
Meanwhile, in a large, deep skillet, combine the ketchup, jelly, sherry, and Worcestershire. Add 1/2 cup of water and bring to a simmer, whisking until the jelly is melted.
Using a slotted spoon, add the meatballs to the sauce and simmer over low heat until thickly glazed, about 15 minutes. Transfer the meatballs to a bowl and serve with picks. Looking for party-ready recipes? Try our top guacamole recipes, birthday cakes, or punch recipes.