Sweet and Sour Meatballs

Thanksgiving is almost here!  Can you feel the pressure?  I feel less pressure than I normally do, this year we have been invited to New Hampshire to spend Thanksgiving with friends and I could not be more excited!  After Hurricane Sandy and the adventures she brought along with her, a Thanksgiving getaway with wonderful people is exactly what the doctor has ordered.

 However, I know the thrill yet exhaustion that comes with preparing a full Thanksgiving meal.  And usually for a full two or three days, I have very little desire to step foot in a kitchen again.  But there will come a time when leftovers just won't cut it anymore.

 But if you're entertaining for a long weekend, it's nice to have something, quick, easy and delicious to pull out of the artillery.  These meatballs are just the trick.  The meatballs are store bought, so half the work is done for you.  It comes together quickly, is easily doubled or tripled and is a real crowd pleaser.  Really, who doesn't like meatballs?

Sweet and Sour Meatballs
Favorite Family Dinners

Ingredients

1 20 ounce can pineapple chunks
3/4 cup maple syrup
1/2 cup cider vinegar
1 12 to 16 ounce package frozen cooked meatballs (I used frozen turkey meatballs)
2 medium red or green sweet peppers
1/4 cup cold water
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups hot cooked Asian noodles or spaghetti (rice would be fine too)
sliced green onions

Directions

Drain pineapple, reserving liquid.  Set pineapple chunks aside.  In a large saucepan, stir together pineapple liquid, syrup, and vinegar.  Add meatballs,  Bring to boiling; reduce heat.  Simmer, covered, for 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, remove seed from sweet peppers and cut into 3/4 inch pieces.  Add to meatballs.  Simmer, covered, for 5 minutes more.

In a small bowl stir together water, cornstarch, and salt until smooth.  Stir into meatball mixture.  Cook and stir until thickened and bubbly.  Cook and stir 1 minute more.  Stir in pineapple chunks; heat through.  Serve over hot cooked noodles and , if desire, sprinkle with green onions.

Happy Thanksgiving!!