I’m from North Dakota, Norwegian ancestry, so this is my Mom’s meatball recipe that she started making in the 50s and we still make today. I also included a rhubarb dessert recipe, as rhubarb is a big thing in North Dakota.
NORWEGIAN MEATBALLS
Combine 2 lbs. hamburger, 2 small onions (chopped), 1 egg, 1/2 c. cream, 2 T. cornstarch, 1 t. salt, 1/4 t. ginger, and 1 t. nutmeg. Mix well and roll into balls. Heat a cast iron skillet; brown and cook meatballs until done. Remove meatballs from the skillet, and make gravy. Add meatballs to gravy, and simmer until meatballs are heated. If not serving right away, you can leave meatballs and gravy in a covered pan, with the burner off, and then just reheat when ready to serve. Gravy: Add water to the hot skillet with drippings and heat, scraping up brown bits on bottom. Mix flour with water and mix well. Slowly add water to the pan while stirring until the consistency you want. Serve with mashed potatoes and a vegetable.
RHUBARB CRUNCH
Preheat the oven to 350 F. Crust: Combine 1 c. quick oatmeal, 1 c. brown sugar, 1 c. flour, and 1/2 c. margarine. Crumble and press half on bottom of 9x13 pan and save half for the top. Boil until thickens 4 c. rhubarb, 1 c. sugar, 2 T. cornstarch, red food coloring for color, if you wish. Add 1 can of cherry pie filling to the hot mixture and pour onto the crust. Crumble the rest of the crumbs on top. Bake for 45 minutes. Serve with whipped cream or ice cream. Refrigerate leftovers.