When the holiday magazines begin to arrive I place them into their own stack. They remain there until waiting patiently until the day that I begin the most epic planning session of the year! With a hot cup of coffee, a notepad, some post-it notes, and my most favorite pen I start one of my most favorite tasks of the season.

Flipping through the magazines and perusing the recipes, I place a post-it note 0n the pages with a great idea or delicious looking recipe. Once all the magazines have been reviewed, I then go back through each one and look only at the highlighted pages. I begin to make my plans and start creating my special holiday menus. I love integrating classic recipes, like my favorite Party Meatballs with new recipes and ideas—adding my own curious twist, of course.

I know it may seem like a quite an ordeal to some, but it brings me such joy and kicks off the holiday season in the most delicious, creative, and curious way!

INGREDIENTS

1/2 pound best quality ground pork

1/2 pound best quality veal

1/2 pound best quality ground chuck

2 teaspoons Kosher salt

1 teaspoon course ground pepper

3 cloves garlic, finely chopped

2 large eggs

1 large onion, finely chopped

1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

1/4 cup freshly chopped parsley

1 cup panko bread crumbs

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F

2. Line cookie sheet with parchment paper

3. Place all ingredients in large mixing bowl, mix until combined thoroughly.

4. Shape into a 1 1/2” ball, and place each meatball on prepared cookie sheet. Bake for 20 minutes or until cooked all the way through.

Yields:Approximately 20 servings

Serve on a platter with a bowl of marinara dipping sauce, Rao’s is a great choice. Mix up a delicious pitcher of Red Wine Sangria and don’t forget the festive party picks and napkins.

Will you be serving appetizers this holiday season? Try Figgy Piggies in a Blanket or my Spiced Pecans. I know you are going to love them. Cheers.