Polynesian Meatballs

I love these adorable little "balls o' meat", as Grace recently said. These are a staple on Superbowl Sunday (for Lakeland Jo and anyone else not here in the USA, that's the Sunday when the last football game of the season is played, presumably between the two best teams in the country. Really, it's an excuse for people to get together, laugh, eat, and enjoy good company during the doldrums of winter).

Since my big kids are all in college now, and they really can't come home for Superbowl Sunday, because they have to be back in class on Monday morning, I decided to hold the traditional Superbowl Buffet on New Year's Eve this year. After all, I reasoned, I don't have much in the way of NYE traditions; it's just another day when TV is all reruns, stores close early, and it's COOOLLLLDDD! 9 degrees here was not a welcome temperature, I assure you. Even poor Thor balked at going outside. One of my daughters went with college friends to visit someone who lives in Staten Island, and got "within 5 blocks" of Times Square; the poor dear probably also got frostbite, one of my sons went out for a while with one of his prom dates (yes, 2 girls went to one prom with him), but everyone else stayed in the warmth of our happy home.

First on the menu:
POLYNESIAN MEATBALLS

2 pounds ground beef, made into meatballs using "your favorite recipe" (mine being straight meat without additives or fillers)
1 - 15 ounce can pineapple chunks, reserve juice
2 tbsp catsup
2 tbsp wine vinegar
1 tbsp cornstarch
1 tbsp brown sugar
1 beef bouillon cube
water to be added to the pineapple juice to total 1 cup

In a saucepan, whisk the cornstarch into the pineapple juice/water mix. Add the catsup, vinegar, brown sugar and beef bouillon cube. Heat until it boils, thickens and turns clear, about 3 to 5 minutes. Pour over the meatballs in a shallow roasting pan, sprinkle the pineapple chunks around the meatballs, and cook at 400F for 8 to 10 minutes.
Yes, I have a lot of pineapple on this platter, and not much sauce. The sauce was in a serving bowl beside the meatballs, so everyone could add their own amount. This helps those of us who like our food segregated (Paula, that would include your twins).

Of course, a couple of these flew Thor's way, without any sauce, because humans can be quite clumsy sometimes. They received both the human and canine seal of approval (with apologies to Good Housekeeping magazine).