Pork Meatballs

With this economy, we have to be a bit more creative with less expensive cuts of meat and create something new and delicious.  Here's a take on what I think is a copy of what I ate somewhere.  I can usually guess what went in the food if it's "home cooking" kind of dish.  My family liked it; including my sister who usually does not like sandwiches.

INGREDIENTS:
1-1/2 lbs of ground pork (preferably without hormones nor anti-biotic)
1 to 1-1/2 slice of stale or fresh bread (grated for bread crumbs)
1/4-1/3 c milk to soak fresh bread crumbs
2 tsp Tommy Tana's Secret Thai seasoning or 3/4 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp Thai Red pepper powder
1 tsp BBQ Rub seasoning of your choice
1 tsp smokey chili salt or salt and 1/2 tsp smoke flavoring
1/2 minced onion
1/2 sliced onion for caramelizing
Jelly Pepper of your choice
6 hot dog buns or 15-18 slider buns

FETA CHEESE PIMENTO: (You can make this in advance to set aside)
8 oz Greek feta cheese
4-5 Greek prepared marinated peppers
2 TB pepper paste
1 TB sour cream (optional - if too thick)

At Left:  Greek style red peppers I used for the pimento cheese. Below is a container of Feta cheese

To make the pimento, simply combine the feta cheese, Greek peppers and pepper paste in a food blender.  If too thick, you may add 1TB of sour cream.


Combine fresh bread crumbs with milk and wait a minute or so for bread to absorb the milk.  Add next 4 ingredients (Thai seasoning, pork rub, smokey chili salt or substitute, and the minced onion) and mix well.  Make balls.

Heat a grated griddle and cook the meat balls turning it on all sides in medium heat - about 5 minutes.  Set aside. 

Meanwhile, with a little olive oil in frying pan, fry the sliced onions to caramelize - about 10 minutes.  When finished, split the bread and toast open on griddle where the meatballs were cooked in; about 3 minutes.

Above, the hot dog buns split open to heat up and make grill marks and absorb some of the flavor from the pan.

On the right is the sliced onions being caramelized

To serve:  Spread one side of bun with feta cheese pimento.  Place 3 meatballs in a row (1 meat ball if using sliders).  Top it with 1 TB of pepper jelly and some caramelized onion.  Close bun and serve!!

Makes a good lunch, brunch or appetizers served in sliders.  Salad on the side for a healthy meal!

You can use any pepper jelly

http://wholefoodsmarket.com/stores/unionsquare/
The Greek-style marinated peppers came from Whole Foods as well as the Feta Cheese.