Light and healthy meatballs meet a tangy garlicky dipping sauce with Thanksgiving flair… Actually, before I dive into this can we talk about the word garlicky real quick? At first you’re like, “hey, K, what are you doing in there?” And while it may seem gratuitous at first, you then realize garlicy would be decidedly less appetizing. But I digress…
The month of November marks the true start of the holiday season: Christmas displays in the store, holiday music on the radio, and Black Friday commercials out the wazoo. But with the craziness comes something else – holiday parties! I absolutely love parties, but unfortunately no one entertains like they used to (Mad Men, anyone?). I grew up with a mother who hosted Bunco, Pampered Chef parties, jewelry parties, fabulous themed birthday parties for me and my siblings, etc. Seriously, she went all out! Though my 4th story studio doesn’t quite afford me the opportunity to entertain, I am fortunate enough to have a dear friend with a lovely house who shares the same love of entertaining. This past weekend she hosted the first party of the season, so naturally I had to do my part and provide a yummy appetizer for the hors d’oeuvre potluck!
My mother (coming full circle here!) introduced me to this recipe from Fresh4Five last holiday season and we could not believe how delicious it was, so I just had to make it again! However, I’m never one to leave a recipe alone nor do I like to go out of my way (or budget) just to find certain ingredients, so I substituted some fresh sage I had on hand for some of the dried herbs, and I put my own Thanksgiving-themed twist on the on the molasses sauce. Really, I should have just called these “Thanksgiving on a stick” even though they really, really should be enjoyed year-round.
I doubled this recipe with much success for the party – and it’s a good thing I did, because there were only 6 meatballs left at the end of the night! And just today I made another double batch for a beloved co-worker’s surprise baby shower potluck – they disappeared quickly. Whether made for dinner, a snack, or an appetizer, I think this it’s safe to say this recipe is a keeper :)
This recipe is:
• Gluten-free
• Dairy-free
• Soy-free
• Refined sugar free
• Nut-free
• Paleo
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