Spinach balls for all

I'm not kidding. This simple recipe is one of our family favorites. It's not a holiday or a party without spinach balls. Spinach balls are seasonless. They work all year long for us: spring, summer, fall, and winter. The kids, now all grown, have been downing these since they were wee ones. And even folks who may not care for spinach find they like these. Who wouldn't like stuffing, butter, and cheese mixed in with some veggie for a quick, delicious pop in the mouth?

My mom knows that everyone looks forward to her bringing the spinach balls. We've made them plenty of times ourselves, but it's very helpful when mom brings them for a family get-together, since we're usually preparing the bulk of the  meal and they do take some time to roll. Mom makes them in advance and dad helps mom to get the job done since four hands are better than two. I suggest enlisting your family to help with the task, as I did myself over the years. Young children will like them even more since they helped make them!

We like spinach balls hot or cold. They're an easy party appetizer and you can heat up just what you need at a time. Leftovers are great. It's always a contest to see who can get to them first the day after a party. Hey, we love leftovers. What can I say?

My Aunt Betty Jane gave this recipe to us more than thirty years ago. And I still have a copy cut from the Philadelphia Bulletin back in the day. You can find this recipe online, but I'll share it here for you.

Grandmom Mary's Hot Spinach Balls

2 10-ounce packages frozen chopped spinach
2 1/2 cups herb stuffing mix (can use 1 box of Stove Top)
3/4 cup butter or margarine
4 eggs
3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 large onion, minced
Salt and pepper to taste
Nutmeg to taste
Thyme to taste

Cook spinach according to package directions; press out all the water. Combine remaining ingredients with spinach and roll into bite-size balls. Bake at 350° F. for 20 minutes on a cookie sheet. Serve hot.

Note: These can be frozen after cooking. Freeze on a cookie sheet and then drop them in a freezer bag. You can take out just what you need then. Reheat in microwave or at 400° F. in conventional oven until hot.

We certainly will be eating these ourselves this Thursday. We nibble all day and always have spinach balls on the table while we're cooking. Hope you try these for your Thanksgiving meal this year. Let me know if you and yours like them.

Enjoy!

Until next time, yours in food and fun...Therese