There’s nothing like a nice summer meal in the middle of winter to get your mind off of the blistering cold. If you’re like me and can’t afford escape the snow with a warm tropical vacation, no worries! Close your eyes, have a taste and drift away to warmer climates with this recipe:

Hawaiian Meatballs

Ingredients (serves 2)

1/4lb of Ground Beef (substitute chicken or turkey if you’d prefer)

1/2 Green Pepper

1/2 Red Onion

1/2 Carrot

1  – 16oz Can of Pineapple Chunks in Pineapple Juice

1  – 16oz jar of pitted cherries; drained.

1 tbsp of Flour

1/4 cup of Panko Crumbs (or breadcrumbs)

1 egg

Seasonings (I used about a teaspoon of salt, black pepper, red pepper flakes, parsley, garlic powder, allspice, to taste. Feel free to get creative and use your favorite savory seasonings)

Directions

Step 1

Cut the peppers and onions, into large chunks, julienne carrots because they will take longer to cook than the peppers and onions.

Step 2

Seasoning the ground meat then add egg and breadcrumbs. Mix well.

Step 3

Form into small meatballs sized about smaller then a ping pong ball. Don’t make the meatball to big or else they won’t cook in the middle on the stove. You decided you would like larger meatballs you will need to brown it on the stove and put it in the oven.

Step 3

Brown meatballs on both sides in a hot pan then remove from the pan to rest.

Step 4

Drain pineapple juice from the can into a bowl and whisk in flour. Make sure there aren’t any lumps.

Step 5

Saute vegetables in the pan and add the pineapple juice mixture. Simmer on medium heat to thicken.  Add meatballs and continue to simmer for a 5-7 minutes.

Step 6

Add pineapple chunks and cherries and continue to simmer for 2 minutes. This recipe can be eaten with rice or noodles.

Now, throw on your bathing suit, crank up the heater and enjoy your bit of summer in the freezing cold!

Bon Appetit!