Merryomac said:
Ok, now that I have your attention, I really do want information about them. My daughter is planning her son's 2 year old Birthday Party and the theme is balls. She's going to include: base balls, foot balls, basket balls, soccer balls, ping-pong balls, beach balls, golf balls, gum balls, etc. You get the idea!
I want to help her think of foods to go along with this theme. There will be adults and toddlers at this party. I'm not making too much head way here as I've only come up with: melon balls and meatballs.
Any ideas that you have that we can use on a shoestring budget would be greatly appreciated!
Oh ........... snow balls? Could I fit this in?
Meatballs, riceballs, fishballs, lentilballs, potatoballs, snowballs, melonballs, cheeseballs,... and furballs for the cat!
Ok let's get serious here... make meatballs and vary the dipping sauce. Use beef, veal, pork, what ever is available. Mix them all together.
Tomato paste, sour cream, paprika = Hungarian meatballs
Tomato paste and lime/lemon = Syrian meatballs
Peanut sauce = Oriental/Thai/Indonesian meatballs
Soy sauce with ginger = More oriental meatballs
Some chutney with lemon, ginger and a little spice = Indian meatballs
Tomato, onion, garlic, lime, coriander leaf and cumin = Mexican meatballs
Fishballs are also very economical to make, since you can "pad out" the fish with breadcrumbs, rice, potatoes, etc.
Lentil Balls - think falafel; soak your favourite chickpeas or split peas over night. Blitz in a blender or processor with garlic onion and your favourite spice mix. Serve with (hey, this is an instant invention - I use a tamarind-mint chutney!!) a mix of Mint jelly, lime/lemon juice, salt, sugar, hot pepper to taste.
Cheese balls: cream cheese, mix with a little garlic or chopped onion and some mixed herbs. Roll in crushed almonds, or crushed peanuts, or crushed nuts (OUCH!") or chopped fresh herbs. Place in the freezer for 20 minutes then into the fridge.
For the melon balls: add a little piece of GOOD ham and a sprinkling of ground ginger on a toothpick. YUM!
There! Does that help?