Baby Meatballs

These meatballs aren't necessarily smaller, but I did make them for the baby, so you get Baby Meatballs.

I thought of putting these ingredients together to make a baked meatball as a way to introduce ground beef to Everleigh. After doing some surfing on wholesomebabyfood.com I came across a similar recipe. I figure I'd come across this recipe in the past and that is where I got my idea. Just giving credit where credit is due.

Since it was the first time I was offering ground beef, I didn't want to make an entire pound of meat worth of meatballs yet. I used about 1/5 of the total package of meat, the rest I used for chili. I also didn't measure any amounts, but the portions of each of the ingredients are pretty much equal.

I think this is a great way to "sneak in" vegetables for older children also. In fact, keeping frozen cubes of vegetable purees is really handy for other recipes as well. You can throw them in meatballs, meatloaf, soups, stews, crock pot recipes, casseroles, hamburgers, omelets, stocks, taco meat, all kinds of things. Its a quick and easy way to add extra vitamins and veggie goodness without having to eat a load of vegetables.

For these meatballs, I considered adding an egg yolk, but since I was making such a small portion I didn't and I think they still came out pretty good. (I didn't want to mess with portioning out 1/5 of an egg yolk). Since I have to cut them up to serve them to Everleigh I don't mind that they are a little crumbly. This recipe tastes pretty good but they are not super flavorful. To adapt for older children and adults I would think adding an egg and plenty of salt and pepper and other seasonings you like will do the trick.

Also, you can add probably ANY kind of veggie puree you want. Sweet E has taken a stand against zucchini, so this is a great way to use mine up. (She'll never know the difference!) She really likes her little meatballs and I am one proud mama watching her enjoy something I put heart and effort into to create for her.

Baby Meatballs:

Equal parts:
Ground beef (I use ground sirloin 90/10)
Baby rice cereal
Veggie puree (I used half peas and half zucchini)

Mix well. (It's best to use your hands when mixing ground beef for meatballs, meatloaf or hamburgers.)
Form into 1 inch meatballs.
Bake in oven at 350 degrees for 20 minutes or until done.

These freeze well also. They are easy to store and remove one at a time for quick thawing.

 Simple ingredients.

Equal portions. Ready to mix together.

Meatballs!

Ready to bake.

All done!