Valentine's Day Dinner

How do you usually spend Valentine's Day? Dinner out? Home cooked meal? This year I think I'll cook dinner for my husband and spoil him for a change. Here's the fare:

Sweet and Sour Meatballs
Rice
Green Salad
Onion Rolls
Dessert of Choice

My kids call certain recipes I cook "funeral food." LOL! I did get the meatball recipe at a funeral. Though the occasion is somber, the food is usually always good. Do you have some "funeral food" recipes you'd like to share? Email me at jerrib@suite101.com.

As I write, I remember a meal I cooked for my husband after we were married. With Joy of Cooking in hand I remember I deep-fried (when it was cool to do that) chicken legs - they weren't done when I served them! It was a disaster, but he was very understanding. Dinners are much more pleasant now because I have lots of experience behind me.

Anyway, let's get cooking!

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Sweet and Sour Meatballs

Meatballs:

1-1/2 lb ground beef
1/2 tsp. ground ginger
1/2 cup minced onion
2/3 cup cracker crumbs
1/4 cup milk
1 egg

Mix and form into meatballs. Place on a large cookie sheet (with sides, actually a jelly roll pan - you don't want to start a grease fire in your oven) and bake at 450 degrees for 15 minutes or until done. Drain on paper towels.

I love this for ease of cooking. You don't have to chase them around a fry pan. It's also a good way to cook out the fat that's in the meat.

Sauce

2 T. cornstarch
1/3 cup cider vinegar
1 T. soy sauce
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 T. chopped green pepper
13-1/2 oz. can pineapple chunks

Drain pineapple and save juice. Mix with cornstarch, vinegar, soy sauce and brown sugar. Whisk to get lumps out and cook in microwave until thickened and clear. (You may do this on the stove, but be sure to stir while cooking so it doesn't burn.)

Place meatballs in a large bowl. Add green peppers and pineapple chunks. Pour sauce over, stir and serve over steamed rice.

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Do you have problems with rice? Here's a foolproof way to cook rice:

Rice

2 cups water
Dash cooking oil
1 cup rice

Pour water into 2 quart saucepan. Add oil and bring to boil over high heat. When water boils pour rice over water and cover pan. Set burner heat to lowest setting and set timer for 25 minutes. Don't remove lid until cooking time is over. Voila! Great, fluffy rice!

I like jasmine rice, but any white rice will do.

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Now, for the rolls. You won't believe how easy they are and they are always a hit. This is one of those instances when I use a prepared product, as it's just so tasty! I have never served them without someone asking for the recipe. They are always amazed when I give it to them.

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