BBQ Meatballs

My mom has the best BBQ meatball recipe ever.

That's a big statement to make, I realize.

Try them, and you will see.  This is all you need.

Those ingredients, after being properly mixed and rolled, become this.  Yes, it makes a lot - which is nice because you can freeze 'em and pull out later for an easy dinner!

Bake them, and you get this tasty result.  They're topped with BBQ sauce, obviously!

Which is how, this cold, almost-snowy evening, we came to be eating this tasty dinner.

Mom told me - and this came as a giant surprise to me! - she often uses storebought BBQ sauce instead of making it.  Try making your sauce first, just once, and then if you don't like doing it, feel free to go back to buying your sauce.  Tonight, in fact, we had our meatballs with storebought sauce.  It's whatever floats your boat, really.  Sometimes I just like the satisfaction of knowing I made it myself.  And I think it's better.

BBQ Meatballs
2 lbs hamburger
1 13-oz can evaporated milk (or 1 cup milk)
2 eggs
1 c oatmeal
1 c chopped onion
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
2 tsp chili powder
Mix all ingredients and shape into walnut-sized balls.  Place on cookie sheet to freeze.  If you're cooking them right away, put them in a baking dish with sides.  Top with barbecue sauce and bake for 1 hour at 350.

BBQ Sauce
1 1/2 c brown sugar, packed
2 c ketchup
1/2 Tbsp garlic powder
1/2 c chopped onion
1 1/2 tsp liquid smoke
Mix sauce ingredients together.  Pour over meatballs and/or reserve some for later use (cook it before eating so the flavors mix).

Hint from Mom:  Pour some BBQ sauce in the bottom of your baking dish before putting the meatballs in it.  It helps keep them from sticking gummily to the dish.