Thursday, January 29, 2009

A Beautiful Mess



Several years ago, a country band called Diamond Rio released a song called "Beautiful Mess."

"What a beautiful mess, what a beautiful mess I'm in
Spending all my time with you
There's nothing else I'd rather do
What a sweet addiction that I'm caught up in
'Cause I can't get enough
Can't stop the hunger for your love
What a beautiful, what a beautiful mess I'm in"



Invisible Friends, this is a beautiful mess. A beautiful mess of meatball goodness handmade by none other than the Pond's resident chef, Ben.




There's only one problem with this gorgeous mess of meaty goodness.


There's no real recipe.


It's different every time and is constantly evolving.


There are however, a few constants. They involve 2 lb. ground beef, Parmesan cheese, onion powder, garlic powder, crushed cracker crumbs, an egg, oregano and various Italian spices, kosher salt and pepper.



First, you mix the big old mess together. Then separate into little balls with a spoon or Ben's favorite, a cookie scoop.



Rolling, rolling, roll the meatballs....






Drop into a dutch oven with your favorite sauce and let simmer for two to three hours.



That's it.







It's simple.





And beautiful.




And messy.


Just the way I like it.


Stay tuned, Invisible Friends! Tomorrow we have a re-cap of the Babies' Birthday party! Then this weekend, we have the chronicles of the Rubber Chicken as he rescues his lady love of frizz, the Fuzzy Duck! And more whimsical fun coming your way! Stay tuned!

74 comments:

Anonymous said...

It looks delicious! I think Ben should do his best to come up with some kind of recipe for us.

Marie Rayner said...

Yummo! I love pasta and meatballs! I sometimes make a whole mess of meatballs and then freeze them so that I can take them out anytime I need a meatball fix! Ben's meatballs look scrumptious!!!

Donna-FFW said...

Aren't the best recipes those without measurements.. The "mess" looks very appetizing and has me craving meatballs, and I want my husband to roll them!

Kati said...

That looks delicous!! Makes me hungry.

Yes indeed... that song is an oldy!!

Theresa said...

Ben's mess looks messy-licious!

Katie Lane said...

Hi! This looks yummy, not messy.

Finla said...

Here at home we all love meat balls and this looks so steamy yummy delicious.

Lori said...

YUM!!
I know what I want for dinner tonight!! :)

Unknown said...

Yummy!!! And a husband that cooks too. Stop it.

natalia said...

I love your mess !

Barbara Bakes said...

Those pictures leave me hungry for pasta! You can almost feel the steam!

Lauren said...

I always say, the messier the kitchen is after the cookin, the better the eatin (my husband who usually does the cleaning typically doesn't agree with this statement--or does so grudgingly, because it IS true).

That looks so awesome. The cookie scoop idea is a good one. I shall use it the next time I make meatballs.

Maria said...

Messy meals are usually the best!!

Jewel Allen said...

Yum. This looks delicious.

Rebekah said...

Thanks for stopping by!! I enjoyed looking at your blog and this recipe looks yummy!!!

Katherine Roberts Aucoin said...

You can look at that "mess" and know it's nothing but GOOD!!

Dawn Parsons Smith said...

My son just walked by and saw the photos and had a meatball meltdown! He wants me to make that for breakfast!

Cathy said...

Yum -- I'll take a beautiful mess like that in my kitchen any day!

Reeni said...

I love Ben's beautiful mess!! Yumminess!

Linda said...

Here is what you have to know...the Italians cook by taste and feel. We have no recipe for our sauce either...a little of this and that and always tomatoes!!
This looks great!
Yesterday I mad some barbeque sauce for leftover roast beef as I wanted to make some B-B-Q. Can't tell you the measurements, only what went into it...and it was yummy! That is what cooks do...now if it is baking, you have to be precise, but cooking that sauce...mmmmm.

Kristina P. said...

Man, I need some spaghetti and meatballs!!

Jen @ tatertotsandjello.com said...

Now that's my kind of mess Duckie! It looks so delicious. Your husband is a keeper!

XOXOXOXOX
Jen

Ingrid_3Bs said...

You go Ben!

The guy's goodlookin', funny, AND he cooks!
~ingrid

Anonymous said...

Oh man that looks so good!!! Thanks for stopping by my blog!!! Did you sign up for my One World One Heart giveaway??? I am giving away a beautiful bracelet I made!!!!
~Abigail

Pam said...

Messy meals are usually the best. Great job Ben - it looks tasty.

Marjie said...

My handyman son asked me this weekend why I make meat sauce instead of plain sauce with meatballs, and I told him I'm just not that into playing with ground beef. I do love meatballs, however, if only I didn't have to play with them!

Jen Sue Wild said...

This mess looks so yummy!!

Michelle said...

Oh yummy...I don't care if it's a big mess! I love food and this looks delicious! I don't know if I could wait 2-3 hours though...smelling it while it cooked. I'm an instant satisfaction kinda gal. Hehe!

Anonymous said...

The best recipes sometimes don't have "recipes"...LOL! My dh cooks like that too. It drives people nuts when they ask him for his recipe for something. :) I loooove meatballs!

Colleen said...

A lot of times the best food doesn't have a real recipe - that way it reflects who is making it and how they are feeling at the time. This looks so good!

Bramblemoon Farm said...

Hey, I just realized you said drop in and cook-- you don't have to cook/saute/bake BEFORE you put them in the sauce? Because that is one big pain in the patooty. These look mighty good too:)

Dewi said...

Scrumptious and delicious! And absolutely mouth watering.
Cheers,
Elra

Heather said...

mmmm. that looks like a mess i could get into! if ben is ever looking for another home.... he (and his meatballs!) are welcome here!!

Ronnica said...

Those look delicious!

Marjie said...

Dear Duckie, Thor was on his way to Queen Bitty's birthday party, but they wouldn't let him on the plane. Something about rules against 4 footed people weighing over 200 pounds. *sigh*

Paula said...

Hey, I know that song! That's a good one for me to hum today. Thanks! Also, love the balls of meat. They both sound and look delicious. The Pond man did a great job! YUM!

MammaDucky said...

I want that for supper!!

Anonymous said...

Yummy looking dinner!

Julie said...

That looks great, wish I could be there for dinner...yum

Melissa Miller said...

That looks like a delicious beautiful mess!

Erica said...

YUM!!!!!!!!!!! I love meatballs and the simpler/easy to make the better they are! I love your beautiful mess ;) ;)

haha yes I love attack! Its a great workout ;)

The Short (dis)Order Cook said...

My husband's favorite meal! Except he makes me use turkey - bleah! I know I never make them the same way twice either.

Does Ben brown the meatballs before putting them in the sauce?

Molly said...

Now I'm in the mood for pasta. Looks wonderful!

tracey.becker1@gmail.com said...

You can never go wrong with meatballs...

Anonymous said...

Thank you for stopping by and leaving a comment! This looks so delicious, I am famished! :)

Grace said...

Yummy! How much would it cost me to have y'all as my personal chefs? Nothing real special, just good meals.

Unknown said...

That looks very yummy... I love meatballs!

Anonymous said...

Umm I could use a man like that:)

Bobbi Jo Nichols said...

Yummy! Looks so good.
Hugs, Bobbi Jo

Lucy..♥ said...

Guess what I'm making this weekend???? MEATBALLS!! Yep, not for myself though, but for my friend Tony.... he wants to learn, his Mom makes flat meatballs, never heard of them made that way ;-) Anyway, yours look wonderful!!!

Anonymous said...

Ben! Eh, Paisan! Very very nice job :)

Clumbsy Cookie said...

That's a mess I wouldn't mind having!

Anonymous said...

Pasta and meatballs is one of my favourite meals during Winter (I'd eat it in Summer too, who am I kidding?).

Diana said...

I love the smell of meatballs simmering on the stovetop -- reminds me of home! :)

Anonymous said...

Yum!

Sam Hoffer / My Carolina Kitchen said...

Blonde Duck, I just discovered your blog. It' terrific. I met the the love of my life in Texas - a whole different country as they say and I love Texas. We lived there a long time. I'm also a writer also so we have some things in common. I can see why so many people visit your blog. I will return again soon. Your recipes are great.
Sam

Country Mouse, City Mouse said...

I think I can try to re-create this beautiful mess.

Thanks for sharing, even without a recipe.

Bunny said...

I've been hungry for meatballs, no fair you lucky duckie you!!

Bunny said...

I've been hungry for meatballs, no fair you lucky duckie you!!

Cakelaw said...

Love this mess - yay for Ben!

honeysuckle said...

That looks delicious even without a recipe. I'd love somone to cook them for me!:)

Anonymous said...

Yum! This looks and sounds dee-lish!

Cynthia's Blog said...

That is a beautiful mess I would like to roll around in!

Michelle said...

Mmmmm. I made homemade pizza today and have extra sauce I made thinking I'd have gnocchi tomorrow. But now I just changed that to spaghetti and meatballs!

And thank you so much for coming to visit my blog on my SITS day. Today has been so much fun and so lovely to see the response and fun comments. I really appreciate it. I hope you enjoyed my blog and come back to visit soon!

Debbie said...

Messy food is always best. BBQ, for instance!

tiarastantrums said...

looks delicious- but I just can't touch raw ground beef - augh! My remedy - buy frozen meatballs!!

Pearl said...

apparently, creativity resides within your household. ahhh! :)

test it comm said...

That meatball pasta looks good!

Terra said...

ok, it is 5:30 am, I have been up since 4, My husband and I ate Pizza Tuesday that didn't agree with us and left us feeling ill after every meal since then so we boycotted all food as of noon yesterday and now I see this beautiful mess. OMG. I AM HUNGRY.

Live.Love.Eat said...

Girl, THAT was my favorite song when it was out. I LOVED it so much!!!!!!! And this dish looks awesome!!!

Pietro Brosio said...

It looks very tasty: I really would like to eat some! :-)

~~louise~~ said...

Indeed a "beautiful mess" that tastes oh so good. He's a keeper, duckie!

grace said...

i actually really love that song, and i'm far from a country music fan...
i really love your balls o' meat too. delightfully delicious. :)

Nancy/n.o.e said...

Meatballs make me a bit weak in the knees - Ben's creations look delicious!
Nancy