Homemade Meatballs

These are our family's favorite meatballs. The recipe makes a lot but since ground beef isn't too expensive, they are still a pretty cheap meal. It's a good one to have in your repertoire if you often entertain large groups of teenagers... as we do. Or if your family will one day contain a large group of teenage boys...

3 lb ground beef

1 (12 oz/350ml) can evaporated milk

1 cup oatmeal

1 cup crumbled crackers

2 eggs

1/2 cup chopped onions

1/2 tsp garlic powder

2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

2 tsp chili powder

Mix in a large bowl.

Form into meatballs. I use my cookie scooop. I take a heaping scoop and form the meatballs inside the scoop. (Sorry for using the word scoop so many times, I couldn't think of another word to use.)

Put them in a single layer to maintain their shape. If you want to do this step ahead you can put the meatballs on a lined cookie sheet in the fridge until you're ready to finish them.

Then brown the meatballs in a skillet. The longer you brown them in the skillet, the less you have to worry about them being all the way cooked in the oven. Transfer meatballs from the skillet to a glass 13x9 inch pan. Depending on the size of the meatballs, it might not all fit in one pan. I usually end up with a 13x9 and a 8x8 inch pan.

After you've browned the meatballs, make the sauce.

In a sauce pan, bring to a boil:

2 cups ketchup

1 cup brown sugar

1/2 tsp liquid smoke

1/2 tsp garlic powder

1/2 cup chopped onions.

Pour over the meatballs.

Bake for 45 minutes at 350 degrees.