Ode to Meatballs (and How I Love Thee)

Ode to Meatballs (and How I Love Thee)
Ode to meatballs,
And how I love thee,
For there’s never been another dish,
so versatile as it is tasty.

The marvelous thing about meatballs,
is they’re little meaty balls of joy and happiness.
Big or little, baked or browned,
Simmered for hours or zapped for moments,
Meatballs are simply pure bliss.

Meatballs are delightful because they are international stars,
with many different nationalities and flavors,
creating many different meatballs,
each one needed to be savored,
much to my drooling desire.

There’s Italian meatballs, simmered in a pot for hours in a pot of homemade tomato sauce,
baked meatballs, gently glazed,
meatloaf meatballs, looked in muffin cups
and browned meatballs in a skillet, easy and delicious for days.

You’ve got Swedish meatballs,
BBQ meatballs ( my personal favorite besides Italaian),
Photo from tasteofhome.com
Sweet and sour meatballs,

Crockpot meatballs,
Courtesy of foodnetwork.com
Greek meatballs,
Lawrys.com
Taco meatballs,

Grape jelly meatballs,

Even porcupine meatballs.

Don’t worry Hairy the Hedgehog (Mayor of the Flowered Bed.) They’re porcupine meatballs, not hedgehog. And they’re not made from real porcupines anyway.

The other fabulous thing about meatballs,
is how versatile they are.
You can put them on a sandwich,
over pasta or rice,
smother them in red sauce, brown sauce or white,
Mix them with potatoes, dump them in soup,
Or you can just eat them one by one, like you would a fruit.
You could eat them in the morning for breakfast,
have a dozen or so for lunch.
Pop a few in your mouth for a snack,
and have a meatball sub, spegetti and meatballs or ….
Why, there’s so many options for dinner it should take a week or two to get through them all.
Not that I mind, oh no, oh no.

But the best thing about meatballs you see,
Is that they’re little balls of meat.
It’s like a little hamburger that rolls onto your tongue,
down your throat and plops into your stomach,
leaving you ready for more…
Why, it’s enough to make one meatball crazy.
At least it is for me.

Ode to meatballs,
And how I love thee,
For never have I met such a dish,
That is as versatile as it is tasty.
And just for you, Invisible Friends,
I shall post my new improved meatball recipe
on Thursday.
Stay tuned, Invisible Friends! Tomorrow we have a new Isadora and then delicious meatball recipe Thursday! Friday a new Dallas Jean and Saturday, more critter confession fun! Stay tuned!
Invisible Friends, I need your assistance! I’m featuring 12 fabulous artist bloggers with Etsy shops or services for Christmas, and I need some suggestions! If you know of any talented creative ladies, let me know! I want to feature them with plenty of shipping time to spare! I shall start right after Thanksgiving!
If you’re going to be in the area Saturday, I’m having a book signing at the Twig from 10:30 to noon at their new location at the Pearl Brewery! E-mail me for more details!

Need Christmas presents? Go here to check out my published works! Stories for both children and adults!













November 17th, 2009 at 3:32 am
YUMMMMM!!! I used to make an appetizer with meatballs, grape jelly, and chili sauce. It was super tasty. Hmmm I’m hungry again…
November 17th, 2009 at 4:14 am
Oh man—you jsut gave me a dinner idea—what are porcupine meatballs, anyway??
November 17th, 2009 at 4:17 am
I especially love porcupine meatballs and now I might have to make them today!
November 17th, 2009 at 4:36 am
Meatballs are my favorite!
November 17th, 2009 at 4:38 am
Ummmmm…grape jelly meatballs?
November 17th, 2009 at 4:49 am
Oh, I couldn’t agree more. They are just little blobs of georgousness! I want some now. I’ll even take that little furry one
November 17th, 2009 at 5:34 am
Love me some meat balls too. Great pictures. Made me very hungry.
November 17th, 2009 at 5:36 am
Mmm, I have a small roasting pan just for meatballs. On the rack they get perfect crust ratio. Delish!
November 17th, 2009 at 5:59 am
Yummy post this am!!! I have to host a book club on Friday and I may just have to include a crock pot full of these!
Stopping by from SITS
November 17th, 2009 at 6:12 am
I have to agree, meatballs are fabulous and versatile. Of course, Italian meatball simmered for hours are my fav!!!
November 17th, 2009 at 6:14 am
I did one of my Mini-Memes on meatballs a while back..they are indeed, many ways to make them, and many preferences on favorites!
November 17th, 2009 at 6:21 am
Yummmmm, sugar! I love meatballs but don’t make them often because of the extra step. Now, Love Bunny woul love me to do this but I’ve become lazy in my old age….hmmmmmmm…..maybe that’s an idea for a new story about old ladies! Hah
xoxo,
Connie
November 17th, 2009 at 6:27 am
I love meatballs too… I can’t think of a meatball I’ve met that I didn’t like.
November 17th, 2009 at 6:34 am
my favorite italian place is COCCIA HOUSE in WOOSTER, OHIO – i have eaten there since i was a fetus – and i always get their homemade meatballs – i have never found any that were better
November 17th, 2009 at 6:36 am
Now aren’t you clever! An ode to meatballs–of course! They are, indeed, delicious!
November 17th, 2009 at 6:38 am
mmmmm! i love meatballs. though everyone always likes the grape jelly, i have never been able to eat those. however, i have found a great recipe with cranberry sauce, chili sauce, and a wee bit of lemon juice and brown sugar in a crockpot. nom, nom, nom! and meatball subs with spaghetti sauce & moz are da bomb!and such a super easy dinner!!! mmmmmmm! can’t wait to see your recipe!
November 17th, 2009 at 6:47 am
Spaghetti and meatballs is the ultimate comfort food!
November 17th, 2009 at 7:02 am
Mmm….I love meatballs in any shape or form!
November 17th, 2009 at 7:17 am
Today would have been better…..I have hamburger out thawing
November 17th, 2009 at 7:17 am
mmmmmmmmmm….. the love of meatballs!!
November 17th, 2009 at 7:20 am
You always make me so hungry!
November 17th, 2009 at 7:54 am
Want to know something tragic? Never in all of my years have I so much as tasted a meatball. Though they look quite yummy with spaghetti!
November 17th, 2009 at 8:05 am
Delicious meatballs, my son would love this on his spaghetti.
November 17th, 2009 at 8:12 am
My problem with meatballs is Sir Pickypants keeps insisting I only make him TURKEY meatballs. How I long for more beef ones in my life.
November 17th, 2009 at 8:28 am
oh, i’m hungry…
November 17th, 2009 at 8:33 am
I’m so hungry now! YUM
November 17th, 2009 at 9:22 am
So, do you have any meatballs? I’m leaving with a rather large smile on my face. Ihope your day is as good as the start you’ve given mine.
November 17th, 2009 at 9:31 am
Mmm, I agree, meatballs are SO good in SO many different dishes
November 17th, 2009 at 10:15 am
i love your cute odes! i too love meatballs, and now i’m craving one!
November 17th, 2009 at 10:26 am
Meatballs are one of my son’s top 5 happy foods. He got so excited when he saw the picture of the little boy with the meatball mountain. Now I’m going to have to make meatballs.
November 17th, 2009 at 10:38 am
The meatballs and jelly???
I love ‘em Italian, Swedish, and BBQ and I’m making some tomorrow night. Next to chicken nuggets and pizza, it’s a homegirl favorite!
November 17th, 2009 at 11:07 am
LOVE the meatballs!!
November 17th, 2009 at 11:25 am
Make those veggie meatballs and you’ll have me drooling
November 17th, 2009 at 11:38 am
LOL. I love porcupine meatballs. Except my mom actually did call them “hedgehog” meatballs! Thanks for the good wishes btw
November 17th, 2009 at 11:59 am
I don’t know anyone who doesn’t love meatballs! I could eat a dozen myself, and gawd only knows how many each of my boys would eat. Do you understand why I don’t make them?
November 17th, 2009 at 11:59 am
Ohhhhh more Isadora, I cant wait. I am making meatballs tonight as a matter of fact!
November 17th, 2009 at 12:23 pm
Meatballs are among my all time favorite food.I love them any and every way.
It’s my first visit to your wonderful blog, am loving it already.
Keep up the wonderful work and I’d love o stay in touch.
Cheers!!
November 17th, 2009 at 12:26 pm
MMM! You’ve made me hungry, I do love meatballs. Probably not as much as you, but still! I love your blog header – quite lovely!
November 17th, 2009 at 12:37 pm
Oh…somebody likes Italian-Food…?
“The meatballs, simmered for hours in a homemade sauce…..” this is the italian-way, right! Anyway…..those recipes are all looking so delicious……..but the cutest pic surely is the little boy in front of the meatball-mountain!
what a fun post!
have a gret week!
ciao
elvira
November 17th, 2009 at 1:15 pm
I love meatballs and these are amazing and tasty!gloria
November 17th, 2009 at 1:19 pm
This post makes me realize that it’s been way too long since I’ve had spaghetti and meatballs!
November 17th, 2009 at 1:43 pm
I love it Duckie! I am not such a meatball fan myself, but your love of them is inspiring.
November 17th, 2009 at 1:43 pm
Looking forward to the meatball recipe!
November 17th, 2009 at 2:02 pm
I agree that meatballs are wonderful! My kids like them too!
November 17th, 2009 at 2:10 pm
I just am loving all the photos of meatballs…classic!
November 17th, 2009 at 2:19 pm
I gotta agree….meatballs are one of God’s little gifts to our belly
November 17th, 2009 at 4:30 pm
That is a whole heap of meatballs
November 17th, 2009 at 4:43 pm
thanks for coming over and saying hi! my mom makes great bbq meatballs and now i’m craving them like crazy!
November 17th, 2009 at 4:46 pm
Now I am craving meatballs.
Good luck with your signing – I am so excited for you Duckie!
P.S. The bread for my sandwich was a Tuscan bread from Trader Joe’s…it’s wonderful.
November 17th, 2009 at 4:57 pm
I sooo love meatballs. Spaghetti and meatballs is my absolute favorite!
November 17th, 2009 at 6:07 pm
Must have meatballs! Now! Any kind of meatball will due. I have a friend her shop is called Beaded Tail on Etsy. She makes really nice jewelry with cat and dog themes and donates some of her earnings to pet charities. This is her shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/BeadedTail and this is her blog: http://beadedtail.blogspot.com/
November 17th, 2009 at 6:09 pm
These look so yummy, I’m going to give them a try! One question, though: Does the cookie-stealing bunny like them?
November 17th, 2009 at 7:18 pm
My husband thinks I’m crazy because I’ll buy 2 of those huge club packs of ground beef, make a buzzillion meatballs and then freeze them a dozen or so to a bag. But it means I can have meatballs on a moment’s notice!! Who wouldn’t love that?!
November 17th, 2009 at 7:52 pm
Thanks for stopping by my blog!
Um… those meatballs look DIVINE. every single one of them!
Emily
http://www.projecticansurvive.blogspot.com
November 17th, 2009 at 8:09 pm
Yummy meatballs! Your book signing will be just fabulous!
November 17th, 2009 at 10:23 pm
Duckie! I wish I could be there for your book signing! I love your Christmas book!!!
How are you? I am sorry I have been a bad bloggy friend lately. I have been going crazy trying to get ready for the boutique. But now that it is over, I can get myself organized. I am going to fill out the Woman of the Pond form and send it right over.
You are fabulous Duckie. And now I want some meatballs!
XOXO
Jen
November 17th, 2009 at 11:21 pm
you really should have a song playing with this post! lol!
Grape jelly meatballs?! Now how do you make that?!
November 17th, 2009 at 11:42 pm
I love your odes, Duckie! I love meatballs too! Especially the grape jelly ones and the porqupine ones. (Sorry Hairy!) I wish I could be there for your book signing too. You need to tell me more!!!
November 18th, 2009 at 12:48 am
Oh, meatballs! You’re having a true blue book signing?! How cool is that?!?! I wish I could be there!
November 18th, 2009 at 1:11 am
this post reminds me of the meatball song we used to sing in kindergarten!
” on top of spaghetti… all covered with cheese, I lost my poor meatball when somebody sneezed” lol!
hope you’re having a great day =)
November 18th, 2009 at 1:51 am
I need a good meat ball recipe! the ones ive tried have never come out right.
November 18th, 2009 at 1:59 am
Oooh I love meatballs too! Enough to write an ode to them if I could write an ode!
November 18th, 2009 at 3:58 am
Nothing like delicious versatile meatballs. Lovely ode to the balls!!;)
November 18th, 2009 at 4:09 am
Mmmmm… meatballs! Yum! I love your ode!
November 18th, 2009 at 8:24 am
Mmmmmmmm. Italian meatballs are heavenly!
November 18th, 2009 at 8:53 am
Great assortment of meatball photos
Congratulations on your book signing!!
November 18th, 2009 at 2:35 pm
I love meatballs! I made my meatball soup twice last week – once for my Bible study group and once for the family. It cooks up in less than an hour — with premade meatballs. The link is here: http://calicodaisy.blogspot.com/2009/03/mishs-meatball-barley-soup.html. — michele
November 18th, 2009 at 3:10 pm
We are loving this ode Miss Duck, not to mention the porcupine, how cute is he?! And we also loved the Return of the pig, too cool!
May the rest of your week be outstanding!
tp
November 18th, 2009 at 3:44 pm
I’m right there with ya! Meatballs Rock! They’re yummy any time of day, for any meal and are so satisfying!
November 18th, 2009 at 8:25 pm
Thanks so much for stopping by my blog yesterday. These all look so yummy. All the sudden I’m thinking I need to add meatballs to my menu this week.
November 18th, 2009 at 11:21 pm
I love a good meatball : ) Yum! It is 2 am and I could totally go for a meatball sandwhich right now!
November 19th, 2009 at 10:09 am
i wanna try all of emm!! soo mouth watering!! yummmmmmmmm
May 28th, 2010 at 7:08 pm
hello