Friday, December 01, 2006

Another winner from the Biggest Loser



Spicy Meatballs with Fiery Chili Sauce
The Biggest Loser Cookbook Copyright 2006

¼ pound 96% lean ground beef I used the lean beef
from Costco which I think is 88%
2 tablespoons cooked brown rice
¼ teaspoon dried parsley
¼ teaspoon Italian seasoning
¼ teaspoon fennel seeds
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
1/8 teaspoon red-pepper flakes
1/8 teaspoon dried minced onion
pinch of salt
pinch of black pepper
2 ½ tablespoons of chili sauce
1/8 teaspoon hot-pepper sauce, or more to taste I didn't
add too much because I'm not sure what my son's heat
tolerance is

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

In a medium bowl, combine the beef, rice, parsley, Italian seasoning, fennel, garlic powder, red-pepper flakes, onion, salt, and pepper. With clean hands or a fork, mix well. With a 1” cookie scoop or a spoon and your hands, form the mixture into eight 1” meatballs. Place the meatballs in a single layer on a small nonstick baking sheet. Bake for about 7 minutes or until the meatballs are just barely pink inside. Transfer to a medium bowl and set aside.

Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine the chili sauce with the hot pepper sauce. Pour the sauce over the meatballs. Toss to coat with sauce. Serve immediately.

Makes 1 serving. Per serving: 206 calories, 23 g protein,
17 g carbs, 5 g fat, 60 mg chol, less than 1 g fiber,
678 mg sodium.

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I picked up fennel seeds just last week so when I saw this recipe, I figured it was meant to be. I generally keep everything it takes to make these meatballs on hand (now that I own fennel seeds). We had brown rice with the picante chicken on Tuesday so I just made extra and saved it for this recipe.

These were sooooo good. They were very flavorful, not really 'hot' since I didn't add too much hot sauce. I made the meatballs in the morning, before work, which I think is a good idea. You don't want to cook these too long (especially if you use the 96% beef) so making them ahead of time gives the seasoning time to permeate the meatballs. These would be good as an appetizer too, a lighter version of the famous chili sauce and grape jelly sauced meatballs.

I quadrupled the recipe. This book is all over the place with serving sizes. I'm not sure why this one is just for 1 serving. Although, since one of the biggest problems that dieters have is portion control, it's nice to see recipes for one, for single people or anyone who is dieting alone. I don't think anyone, dieting or not, would feel deprived eating these meatballs.

Blast From The Past: Sweet-Sour Meatballs from November 2005. These were a favorite of my husband's and similar to the recipe above.

Question of the Day: How many people are you cooking for on daily basis?

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Four. Two adults, a 4-year old and a 15 month old! It makes for some interesting adaptations/versions of the same meal since I refuse to cook 3 different meals. Sometimes I do cook a 'grown-up' meal and the kids get leftovers or, as a very special treat, tinned baked beans LOL! Ahhh, the things my kids think are special treat food!

DancesInGarden said...

Three. Some recipes for four fit perfectly or with a bit leftover, but some they really shovel in LOL. Chicken and rice for 6 barely makes it around the table to me.

Anonymous said...

yummmm. I had meatballs last night as well.

I suppose 3 if you include my little pup.

Anonymous said...

I cook for three at the moment, in a couple of months it will be for four. Right now it is for two adults, and a 4-year old but Caleb will soon be eating table foods so the fun begins! There are also many days that I cook for Cameron and myself as hubby is a shiftworker, so tonight for example Cameron and I had roasted chicken (because the oven was already on) and leftover rice. If hubby had been home, I would have cooked a couple of side dishes as well and left the leftovers right where they were.

Anonymous said...

I've been cooking for just two for a long time. Soon, however, our daughter and two granddaughters will be living with us. Sooo, three adults and two children, ages six and nine.

Jan

Wanda said...

My husband and son often work out of town for weeks or months at a time. So right now, it's just two - my granddaughter (10) and myself.

MommyProf said...

Three and a half (since I am feeding the baby now, but that really just means I eat extra). Those meatballs look awesome!

Anonymous said...

I cook for 2 and I've made these with ground chicken and ground turkey. They are fantastic!

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