Now that the growing’s wrapped up for the season, we’re off and running with this year’s 400 Meals project.

Our week one menu featured a depression era staple that some of you might recall. Porcupine meatballs can be made in the slow cooker, baked, or simmered on the stovetop with a lid. They can be served by themselves or alongside mashed potatoes, noodles or additional rice. Leftovers make great sandwiches. A huge thank you to the good folks at Johnson Orchards and Little Bake Shop for donating this week’s dessert. 

Menu: 
Porcupine Meatballs (6 lbs ground beef on sale at $3.50/lb; farm grown tomatoes, onion and herbs) recipe below
Grandma Rust’s Rolls recipe below
Pear Oat cookies
Ceasar Salad (on sale at $2.50/bag)
Per person cost: $2.50ish

Want to support our efforts? Visit our online store to make a purchase or become a sponsoring patron! Bakers can sign up to provide a dessert for 25 by emailing Maria at [email protected]  to select a date. Meals are delivered on Tuesdays. 
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Porcupine Meatballs:

Meatballs:
1 lb ground beef (or pork/beef )
1/3 c minced onion
1/2 cup uncooked rice
1/2 cup water
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp celery salt
1 tsp kosher salt
1/8 tsp ground pepper
1 egg

Sauce:
15 oz tomato sauce
1 cup chicken stock
small handful dried, crumbled basil  
2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp molasses or sugar

To make, mix the meatball ingredients into ground beef with hands. Form into golf ball sized balls (makes 12-15). Place into a baking dish, pan, or cast iron. Cover with sauce, foil or a lid and simmer on medium heat for 35 minutes or until rice is done. Alternately, cover and bake at 350 for 45 minutes.

Grandma Rust’s Rolls
This recipe comes to us by way of my maternal grandmother’s mother. 

2 pkgs yeast in 1/2 cup warm water (set aside)
2 cups milk, scalded
3 TBSP butter
1 TBSP salt
3 TBSP sugar
1 1/2 c water
9 cups flour

To make:
1) Prepare yeast mixture
2) Scald milk. Remove from heat and add salt, sugar and water. Cool to room temp.
3) Add milk mixture to yeast mixture and add 5 cups of flour. Mix together and gradually at 4 more cups of flour to equal 9. Knead for about 10 minutes. Let rise until doubled. Punch down, and let rise again. Then punch down and form into loaves or rolls. Let these rise to done and bake at 350 degrees for 25-25 mins. Should be golden brown on top. Brush with butter with you remove them from the oven. Remove from baking tin immediately and cool on wire rack.