Kjøttkaker Meatballs in Gravy

This was a family favourite - Norwegian Meatballs in Gravy.  I don't know how they differ from Swedish Meatballs or how they differ from meatballs made in Norway.  Below is  my mother's version.  She was the Queen of Gravy Makers and I have never tasted better gravy anywhere and cannot replicate it.
Mom did not use nutmeg or allspice in her meatballs.  Salt and pepper were the seasonings of choice.  People adapted recipes to use what they had on hand.


Olga's Meatballs and Gravy
Mix one egg, beaten with fork,  salt and pepper,  to ground beef.  Form into small  balls and fry til a  rich  brown on all sides  - turning as needed for even cooking.
Place cooked meatballs into a pot and let sit while making the gravy.
Scrape up brown bits in frying pan, add flour and cook,  then add water and bring to a gentle boil.  Add salt and pepper to taste.  Once gravy has thickened pour over meatballs in pot and cook slowly for an hour.  Serve with boiled or mashed potatoes.  We had this on Christmas Eve so that non-lutefisk lovers could eat also. 


There are many different versions, often a mix of pork and beef is used.


Added Spice big batch of Meatballs
1 1/4 c milk
1/2 c breadcrumbs
1 Tablespoon Molasses
3/4 tsp allspice, 1/4 tsp cloves and 1/4 tsp nutmeg - optional, spice as you like.
2 eggs
2 lb lean ground beef  (extra lean is too dry) or 1 lb beef and one of pork.  Mix.
Salt and pepper

Soak breadcrumbs in milk.  Beat eggs with a fork.  Mix all ingredients together and roll into smallish balls.  Put on parchment paper lined cookie sheet and bake in oven at 450 F nine to ten minutes til brown. 
This makes a big batch.  If you have roast beef gravy could use that and when meatballs have browned in oven add to the gravy on top of stove and cook for half an hour just at a simmer. 
I freeze half the oven cooked meatballs and use the remaining half for meatballs in gravy. 
Instead of baking in oven could fry in pan and make gravy from the drippings.


Jeff's Version Norwegian Meatballs
Toast two pieces of bread.  Crumble the toast into a bowl.  Poor cream over toast - just enough to make it soft.  Saute finely chopped onions.  When  oniion  transluscent add to  bread and cream and mix in a lightly  beaten egg.  Add one pound regular ground beef,  salt and pepper, mix.
Roll up meatballs and place in frying pan, turn as they cook, nicely brown  all sides,   Set cooked meatballs aside.  If not enough oil in pan add butter or oil, scrape up brown bits and mix in about 3 Tablespoons of flour,  cook until it browns a bit and then add water or chicken stock.  (or a bouillion cube in water).  About three cups of water.  Bring to a gentle boil and put the meatballs in and simmer for twenty minutes, stir it up and cook for another twenty minutes.  Onion may be omitted and usually is left out.

Uff Da Three Ingredient Cookies - Cookie Baking for Dummies, Take One.

Uff da!!  My cousins are either pokey or stingy with their recipes.  Not that many of them keep up with the traditions but still.....
I will have to travel thousands of miles to see them in person. 
Uff da - ok this is a dead giveaway when a North American utters these two "words."  Some people think it is swearing, others think it is like saying duh??? or 'gee whiz'.  We were the gee whiz tribe.


I knew somebody who had personalized plates on his car.  "UFFDA".  This was in Alberta.  Other people have stickers, "Honk if Your Norwegian."  Of course, we don't honk.  We say "Uff da, what is that guy thinking" and maybe we give him the Alberta salute.  If you know what THAT means you are an Albertan.


My brother has an UFF DA coffee mug, and can also say "vær så god."   I'm impressed. 


While we are waiting endlessly for the authentic family recipes let us whip up a batch of cookies.  A new family recipe.  Baking Cookies for Dummies, no that doesn't sound right - Cookie Baking for Dummies, Take One.


EASY and Good Peanut Butter Cookie Recipe
one cup peanut butter, one cup white (granulated) sugar and one egg.
Stir egg briskly with a fork and add in the peanut butter and sugar.   Stir.
Roll into balls and flatten with a fork.
Bake for 12 minutes at 350 F - depends on - maybe a bit longer - very good. 
Not Norwegian though.