BBQ Chorizo Meatballs with Cheesy Pollenta

I'm not one for meatballs, but when you slather them in BBQ sauce, it makes them far more delicious! This is most definitely a rich meal, and trust me when I say two meatballs are plenty.  We've never had Polenta before, but it was pretty good.  It seems like a great ingredient to experiment with.  I used Parmesan for the cheese, and the caramelized onions added a nice sweetness.  Normally in summer I like to make light meals that don't leave you feeling like you need a two hour nap after finishing them, so to add a summer flair to this meal, I grilled the meatballs before adding them to the BBQ sauce.  It added a nice smoked flavor and definitely added a summer feeling to the not-so-light meal.  The measurements I used made about 9 meatballs, which was plenty for Blake and I. 


Meatballs
1 Fresh Chorizo Sausage Link - remove outer casing
1/4 lb.  Ground Chuck
1/4 Sweet Onion  - minced
2 Garlic Cloves - minced
1 Egg
1/4 Cup Bread Crumbs
Salt and Pepper

1.  Begin by mincing the onion and garlic.  In a large bowl add the Chorizo, ground beef, egg, bread crumbs, onion, garlic, salt and pepper. 

2.  Mix well, and form into 1" balls.  Place onto a tin foil lined cookie sheet until grill is ready.  Place the meatballs on the grill and allow to cook through.  It will be about 3-4 minutes on each side.  Although them to get some char, it adds a nice bit of flavor. 

3.  When finished cooking, place on a clean plate and set in the a large pot with your favorite BBQ sauce.  Allow to simmer  on low until Polenta is ready. 

*** I like to add flavor to my favorite store bought BBQ sauce.  For this one, I added jalapeno, red pepper flakes, honey, and salt and pepper.  It is an extra step, but it definitely makes the meal feel more home made. 

Polenta
4 Tbs. Pollenta
2 Cups Water
1/4 Cup Parmesan Cheese
1 Tbs. Butter
Salt and Pepper

1.  Begin by boiling 2 Cups of water.  Once boiling add in 1 Tbs. of salt.  Pour in the Polenta and stir with a WOODEN spoon.  Allow the Polenta to continue cooking for 5-6 minutes.

2.  Once ready, add in the Parmesan cheese and stir until melted.  Stir in 1 Tbs. butter right before finished. 

Carmelized Onions
1 Medium Sweet Onion - sliced
1/4 Cup Brown Sugar
2 Tbs. Olive Oil 
1 Tbs Balsamic Vinegar
Salt and Pepper to taste

1.  In a large skillet heat 2 Tbs. Olive Oil.  Add in onions once hot, and sprinkle with salt and pepper.  Allow the onions to saute for a few minutes before adding in the brown sugar. 

2.  once the onions begin to turn golden brown and are cooked down, add in the Balsamic Vinegar.  This entire process takes about 20-25 minutes. 

*** My advice is to start these first, while you get everything else ready.  You can set them aside until ready to use, and it will make the meal a lot less stressful. 

Question #9
List 5 people that have influenced you and describe how. (It was supposed to be 10, but I got bored)


#1 & #2 in no particular order - my mother and father
My mom and dad have influenced me to be a successful and caring person.  I am lucky to have had parents that pushed me to be successful in things I've chosen to do.  They not only pushed me to be the best, but they were supportive whenever I needed it.  My parents have made a life for themselves that I myself would love to have.  They are caring parents and grandparents and also have been good people in society.   It's cliche I know, but they are by far the most influential people in my life.

#3 - random strangers 
This seems odd, right? But, I can honestly say that I run into random strangers or see people do stuff on a daily basis that encourages me to be a better person than them.  If there is one thing that I hate, it's rude people or people that care only for themselves.  When I see someone like this in the grocery store or anywhere in public, they motivate me to not act anything like them.  On the flip side, when I see someone act in a kind way for no benefit to them, it also motivates me to be just as good of a person as them.

#4 - Blake
I could not be more lucky to have such a great Fiance and future Husband.  He is one of the hardest working people I know, and even after a long hard day comes home and gives me a kiss. As far back as I can remember, he has been the one that people flock too, and I wish I could be as funny as him.  He has influenced me to be a good person and a person who can love with everything inside me. 


#5 - My Coworkers/classmates
Working with my coworkers and seeing how amazing they all are at their jobs, makes me want to be half as amazing as them.  My classmates too, they are all so smart and hard working, it's amazing to surround yourself with people like that.