Week 16: Recipe #1--Meatballs with Peppers and Pineapple

I have gotten behind in my meal-making and blogging.  My sister and I are starting a new food-related venture, and I have been a tad preoccupied.  This week's posts I haven't made yet; so I will post them and try them out, then add my comments later.  Don't forget to add comments of your own, too!  I got this recipe from the Pioneer Woman website (see link below).  I plan to serve this with a green salad and fruit.
Makes 8 servings.

Photo from Pioneer Woman

You'll Need:

• 1 1/4 lb. ground beef
• 1/2 whole onion, diced very finely
• 1 whole egg
• 1/2 c. panko bread crumbs (or regular bread crumbs)
• 1 tsp. kosher salt
• freshly ground black pepper to taste
• 1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper, more to taste
• 1/4 c. all-purpose flour
• canola oil, for frying
• 2 whole green peppers, seeded and diced roughly
• 1 1/2 c. fresh pineapple chunks
• 2 c. beef stock or broth
• 2 Tblsp. soy sauce
• 1/2 c. sherry or white wine vinegar
• 1/3 c. sugar
• 1 Tblsp. cornstarch
• salt to taste
• crushed red pepper, to taste
• extra beef stock, if needed

Preparation:

1. Combine ground beef, diced onion, egg, salt, pepper, bread crumbs, and crushed red pepper.  Mix with hands until combined.  Roll meat mixture into small balls and place on a cookie sheet.  Freeze on the pan for 15 minutes to firm.
2. Mix together beef stock, soy sauce, sherry (or vinegar), sugar, and cornstarch.  
3. Heat canola oil over med-high heat.  Roll meatballs in flour, then fry in two batches until nice and brown--about 2 minutes per batch.  Remove meatballs and set aside on a separate plate.
4. Pour off oil from pan and return pan to med-high heat.  When pan is hot, throw in the chopped green peppers and cook for one minute.  Add pineapple to pan and cook for one minute, stirring gently.  Pour in stock/soy sauce mixture, then add meatballs.  Stir gently to combine and allow to cook and bubble for a few minutes, or until sauce is thickened.  Add salt and crushed red peppers to taste.  (Hint:  this dish is yummy if it's a little spicy.)
5. Serve over cooked brown or white rice.

Recipe and link: http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2010/12/meatballs-with-peppers-and-pineapple/