Meatballs in Almond Sauce

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            FOOD FUNNY
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Thanks to Jeanie Mellick of Stafford, Virginia for this true food funny:

I use Oreo cookies in my triple chocolate cheesecake but my family
eats them up too fast. The last package I decided to turn into the
black crumbs to protect my stash. I had my 3-year-old help me
break them in pieces and put in the food processor to make the
crumbs. When we were done she whined, "Look Mom, you made
coffee from all those good cookies!"

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            TODAY'S RECIPE
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Spanish cooks often use ground almonds to thicken sauces, a
remnant of centuries of Moorish rule. Don't be alarmed by the
quantity of garlic in this recipe - it mellows considerably during
cooking.

Meatballs in Almond Sauce (Albondigas en Salsa de Almendra)

3/4 cup (180 ml) dry bread crumbs
1 1/4 cups (310 ml) dry white wine
1/2 lb (225 g) ground beef
3/4 lb (335 g) ground pork
3/4 lb (335 g) ground veal
12 cloves garlic, mashed or pressed through a garlic press
2 eggs
1/4 cup (60 ml) chopped parsley
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
2 Tbs (30 ml) olive oil
1 onion, finely chopped
1 carrot, finely chopped
20 blanched almonds
1 1/2 cup (375 ml) beef stock
2 scallions (spring onions), chopped
1 bay (laurel) leaf

Soak the bread crumbs in 1/4 cup (60 ml) of the wine. Combine
the ground meats, soaked crumbs, 1/4 of the mashed garlic, the
eggs, 1/2 the parsley, salt, and pepper in a mixing bowl. Mix
thoroughly and form into small meatballs. Heat the oil in a large
skillet over moderate heat and saute the meatballs until browned
on all sides. Transfer the meatballs to a platter. Saute the onion
and carrot in the same skillet until tender but not browned, about
5 minutes. Stir in the remaining wine and garlic and cook until
most of the liquid has evaporated. Meanwhile, grind the almonds
to a fine powder in an electric blender or food processor and add
the beef stock. Pour the almond mixture into the skillet and add
the meatballs, remaining parsley, scallions, and bay leaf. Cover
and simmer over low heat for 45 minutes. Serves 6 to 8 as an
appetizer.
Received on Wed May 17 08:17:57 2006