[kbuff]

I need to entertain a guy that could be possibly my client. I wanted to prepare something he knows so he can see my "genius". I want to do meatballs. I wanted to do them with some natural aspic cooked out of chicken feet and I want to use bread soaked in buttermilk. I also decided to add some fried pancetta, etc. I have a misgivings about ricotta. I am sure I want to use it, but am not sure whether just for the sauce or also in the meatballs. Sauce BTW I want' to make simple. And I want to use a lot of parsley, oregano, and maybe a pinch of tarragon. Any feedback greatly appreciated. 

Thanks. 

 

[cerise]

Hope I'm not late for the meatball party.  Sounds interesting.  I like ricotta in the mbs, but think they may be too wet w the buttermilk soaked bread. Give it a try.  I would cook up one mb to see how you like the "mix" first. Then make any adjustments, if needed.

 

[canele]

my best advice.... do NOT serve anything you have not dry run and taste tested.

make a batch well before you are having said meatball party..... test them, taste them, tweak them.

 

[kbuff]

Thank you, Cerise,

I did the meatballs, added ricotta, and buttermilk soaked bread. They were very good, a bit wet, but I liked them that way. I also added some refrigerated naturally made aspic (from chicken feet), but it was I think it was not necessary (and I made a mistake to add spice to aspic - it should be basically just plain, if used at all)

But the I didn't like the sauce. I added ricotta to it, and I just didn't like the look of it (may look not appetizing to some people(?), I think I would need to mix this first). Also, the sauce was a little too sour, Maybe not too sour, but to just plain sour, no depth. I added pecorino/parmigiano combination which was good, before broiling it with pappardelle, and the melting cheese, but the melting cheese (I don't remember what I used) wasn't good - I would like it to be a bit more chewy/flavorful.

So the good: meatballs, the bad - sauce and the melting cheese.Sauce too flatly just sour, and the cheese not chewy/flavorful enough.

Any tips. Thanks a lot.

 

[cerise]

I was thinking along the line of Meatballs in Sunday Gravy

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/...a-and-anna-and-frankies-meatballs-recipe.html

 

[cerise]

my best advice.... do NOT serve anything you have not dry run and taste tested.

make a batch well before you are having said meatball party..... test them, taste them, tweak them.

? You just reworded and repeated what I already said. Do you have something to contribute the this "recipe" / query?

 

[brianshaw]

You should be flattered rather than offensive.

 

[cerise]

You should be flattered rather than offensive.

Believe it or not, I spent some time trying to understand and Help the OP. The query had gone unanswered for about a week. Maybe I'm gullible. But, to pop in and repeat the same thing is not thinking anything out - nor is it flattering or an offensive reply on my behalf. Is there a full moon out lately?

 

[brianshaw]

Yes, you helped and, no, you're not gullible. But to challenge someone else's posting because you don't think it is unique or helpful enough is just rude.

The full moon was last week I believe.

Have a nice day!

 

[bob hyneman]

The key to meatballs is not to pack them too tightly.

 

[brianshaw]

BTW, I was going to recommend entertaining a potential client in a neutral environment rather than at home (too many chances of mixed signals) and seek a good cookbook... But you might consider that an inadequate response so I refrained.

 

[bob hyneman]

Apparently there is more going on her than cooking talk, but yes the full moon was last week.

 

[panini]

I don't know if the OP will come back. Will someone explain the aspic. Did they try to use it as a binder? Dip the cooked meatball in it for looks? I used aspic a long time ago in Garde Manger. Is it a popular thing now? I still see it sometimes on dishes for flavor and such in some classical restaurants. but not used for binding. Won't it melt again in the meatball? I'm so confused.

 

[brianshaw]

I'm thinking the idea was gelatin to help improve mouth feel, but just a guess.

 

[panini]

Oh, no wonder they came out a little wet. I like meatballs soft so I cook them in the sauce. They go in raw with the sausage. Food Safe? I don't know, Never got the rumbles from eating them. I do cool everything off quickly and reheat quickly.

I understand the soaking, I soak the bread and cheese. but aspic?/img/vbsmilies/smilies/crazy.gif

 

[jake t buds]

Believe it or not, I spent some time trying to understand and Help the OP. The query had gone unanswered for about a week. Maybe I'm gullible. But, to pop in and repeat the same thing is not thinking anything out - nor is it flattering or an offensive reply on my behalf. Is there a full moon out lately?

I don't think the moon has anything to do with it. You chastised me because I quoted you in a way you didn't like. I agree with Brian.

 

[bob hyneman]

Chefs and cooks talk about some weird stuff.  We must work for a living or something.

Anyway the key to meatballs is not to pack them too tightly.

 

[brianshaw]

One key, Bob. Only one key; there are others.

 

[bob hyneman]

Brian, you are correct.

 

[panini]

Bob, You may be right. My uncle Tubba used to pack as many meatballs as he could in his mouth .. It was bad.