Swedish Hamballs

Food is on my brain.
I got my Glucose Test Results today
at my regular OB doc appt,
and my sugar was just high enough
that the doc asked me to
come back for the extensive three hour test
where you have to follow a strict diet for three days prior
and then fast for 10 hours before the test,
and then drink TWICE the amount of glucose yuckiness.
Ugh!
I feel bummed,
and kinda stunned,
and really REALLY hope I don't
have gestational diabetes!
(Update: I do!)

In many ways I feel silly
feeling bummed about something
that's merely inconvenient
and isn't bringing potential harm to
our babe or to me.

Anyway....
Onto happier subjects...

I had a few requests
for the Swedish Ham Balls Recipe
since I so eloquently
described the yumminess
that is ham, pork, vinegar, and brown sugar
in my family blog the other day!

So here ya go...
(My recipe book my Mom made for me
says it's from her friend, Carol Snell,
and I wonder where she got it from)

SWEDISH HAMBALLS
from Aunt Carol Snell

In a metal or glass bowl:1 lb. Ground pork
1 lb. Ground ham
(I have to grind it myself in my food processor
b/c our deli doesn't have a grinder
they can use on cured meats)1 cup dry bread crumbs
1 egg, well beaten
1/2 cup milk

Roll this meat mixture into small balls.
I got 75 from the one recipe,
because I like to make them bite size.
You can freeze them if you like,
in a big ziploc laying flat in your freezer
or if cooking now,
place in unheated crock pot.

In mixing bowl:
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 tsp dry mustard
1/4 cup white vinegar
1/4 cup water

Pour sauce over hamballs
in the crockpot.
Cook on high.
After one hour, flip them over.
From time to time baste the hamballs
(or "shake" the crockpot
to make the liquid
cover the tops of the hamballs)

Cook for three hours or even more.

Sauce will thicken as it cools.
Serve along side scalloped potatoes.
(I like to serve it with cooked spinach
with a little vinegar and salt)

And there you have it.
Nine ingredients, and a very complex flavor!
Also yummy as an appetizer or party finger food.

Enjoy!!

Celebratin' Tam

I threw a bridal shower for a friend on Sat.
We had a small number of girls,
which seemed to be just perfect
for an "intimates" shower.
We had a good time,
mostly just chatting and
letting girls catch up with each other,
and then a few activities
that turned our attention
to celebrating the Bride.

I had help from another church friend,
as we put the party together,
and she hosted it at her home,
and we had a wonderful array of
food and beverages.
Her husband made sangria,
and we had
Italian Bruschetta,
Cream Cheese rolled in Prosciutto,
Tortilla Pinwheels with Kalamata Olives,
Artichoke Dip with Tortilla Chips,

And I made
Lemon Cream Stuffed Grapes
and
Chocolate Cream Stuffed Strawberries

Being pregnant
I wanted "least" prep
for "maximum" effect!

I got ready-made
JELLO choc. pudding.
I whisked it together
with about 1/2 c. Cool Whip.

I cut an X into each strawberry.
I piped the pudding into the strawberries,
garnished with grated Hershey's Milk Chocolate Bar
and that was it!

Around the outside you can see the lemon creamed grapes.
I'm not positive I remember what I did,
but it was something with
Cream Cheese,
Cool Whip,
Lemon Zest,
Minced Mint Leaves,
piped into an X on sweet red grapes.
Also yummy,
but the strawberries were to die for!

For Dessert I made my mom's Danish Pastry
in the shape of a wedding cake
using Tamra's Wedding Colors,
Yellow and Gray.

Hostess, Bride, and Me, the Pregnant MoH.
Fun that we actually matched!
We had a great time,
and I got several comments
from the attendees that it was just fun
that the shower was so laid back
and chill with good food.
Good feedback, if I do say so myself =).