Elvis Presley....in meatball form!

When your hubby hunts as much as mine does and your chest freezer could put your supermarket meat deptartment to shame, one must expand your recipe repertoire to figure out what to do with all that meat!  These meatballs actually are based loosely on a recipe from Paula Deen.  Many years ago I had seen an episode of hers where she was making recipes that were inspired by some of Elvis Presley's favorite tastes.  Her recipe for Cheeseburger Meatloaf inspired me that day and I put together a similar recipe since I was missing some of the ingredients she called for.  I have never actually made her version and I have since changed mine from the original meatloaf form to meatballs.  With sometimes picky Mini Meringues its just easier to serve a meatball, its more fun!  I have made these using bison, deer and elk burger and they all turn out delicious! 

Cheeseburger Meatballs with Sauce

1 1/2 lbs ground beef

1 tsp each garlic powder, pepper, Lawry Season Salt

1 medium onion, chopped

1 green pepper, chopped

1 cup crushed croutons

2 eggs

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Mix together all ingredients to form either a loaf  or meatballs.  If making a loaf place bread slices on the bottom of the loaf pan before putting the meatloaf in.  It helps absorb the grease and should be discarded after the loaf is removed from the oven.  When I make meatballs where the sauce is served separately I like to bake them on a rack with a jelly roll pan under to catch any of the grease drippings.  Bake them for 45 minutes.  During the last 10 minutes of baking start making the Cheese Sauce.

Cheese Sauce

1 can cream of mushroom soup

1 cups milk

1 1/2 cups grated cheddar cheese

Heat the soup and milk over medium heat, add the cheese.  Pour the Cheese Sauce over the meatloaf or serve on the side to pass at the table.

I usually serve these with mashed potatoes on the side since the cheese sauce makes plenty but since we just had mashed potatoes the other night with the brisket, I made broccoli instead to pour the Cheese Sauce on.  I was not about to pull out the plunger for the second time this week!  I do have my limits with plunger usage. ")