Cocktail Meatballs With Spiced Tomato Sauce

I cook whatever I think is easy, affordable and naturally delicious. For a Pinay mom like me who lives outside my own country, most of the time I think of what to cook for the day. I watched Anthony Bourdain yesterday in his segment at TLC. It was a very interesting show. He was convinced to go to the Philippines by a Filipino American who lives in New York. His name is Agosto, born and grew up in New York, been educated there and has an American Chinese wife. He has never been to the Philippines except the time with Anthony Bourdain. 





I always thought that Filipino Cuisine is barely given a glance internationally. Yes,I cooked but I don't have much background about our cuisine and the fact that I haven't eaten much probably nor I am exposed into it. I hardly know if theres a  Filipino Chef who travels around the world... wait, Am I just ignorant or I myself have to learn a lot. It pain me as a Filipino that I cant described my food as a culture and all. I watched and I understood how Agosto explained his predicament as a Filipino with his culture and food. There's this thin line of explanation that most Filipinos are flexible and would adjust somehow into the setting/ variation of culture. Unlike Chinese, Korean and Indian  Filipinos would somehow set aside their food and culture. In the end Filipinos are in the middle of both culture..theres this emptiness, something is lacking... and you began to search as a person. Oh wow! 





Here's my story for the day

Ingredients:

500 gm ground beef

1/2 cup breadcrumbs

2 eggs beaten

1 tsp mustard

1/4 tsp oregano

1/2 cup grated white onion

1/2 tsp pepper

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp all spice

1/4 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp clover

1/4 tsp cumin

1 tsp grated garlic

2 tbsp cornstarch

For the sauce:

1/2 cup tomato sauce

1/2 cup water and another round of ingredients listed above

1/2 tsp sugar

add 1/4 cup of grated parmesan if you like.





Note: you need 2x of these ingredients, one for the meatballs and one for the sauce





In a bowl.put the meat and add all the ingredients except tomato sauce and water. Make meatballs the size of one tbsp. Then arrange them in a tray, put a paper liner please and dont worry meatballs wont stick. Bake at 450 or 240 for 20 minutes.





Make the sauce: In a bowl combine water and tomato sauce, add the next round of spices plus 1/2 tsp of sugar. Mix and then transfer in a sauce pan, add the cooled bake meatballs. Set aside in the fridge for overnight..yes... overnight. The next day, add 1/4 cup parmesan then heat and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes or until the meatballs are coated but not dry.

These are round balls of excitement.. lovely with delicate texture yet firm and the flavor lingers.... it is so good.. come and  I will throw the balls tonight... be sure to catch it though.... he he! Have a great weekend to all.