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If you want to see the Hebrew version of this post click here

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 If you are not new to this blog, then you must be asking yourself why is this post written in English…. and I am writing this from scratch – meaning, writing in English – not just translating from Hebrew

Well,  Felix – Kfir's friend was here for Playdate the other day. Agi, his mom, told me that he liked the meatballs I prepared the last time he was here. I was flattered. There are 2 kinds of meatballs I know how to do:

• Orna's meatballs (my sister) – she makes meatballs with potatoes. Of course, my version is not exactly as hers, and I have to admit I like hers a lot more than I like mind, but most of the kids who come here like it.
• Meatballs A-LA-RONIT – Ronit is Yoav's daycare teacher. She is a vegetarian, but she makes all the food for the kids. If there is one thing that all the kids like to eat throughout the years it is Ronit's meatballs. And when I say all the kids – I mean – ALL the kids. Even those who like plain pasta without sauce.Even those who like only white rice. Everyone. No exceptionsI got the recipe from Zipi Litvin (she is a vegetarian too…). Ronit came to teach Zipi how to make the meatballs and she sent me her notes
  Of course I lost the note, so, I used my imagination to re-invent the recipe.
  One would think it would have been easier to ask Ronit how she makes the meatballs (as I see her twice every weekday…), but I was to lasy to ask..  (or as my kids say "Mom, we like these meatballs – but they are not as good as the meatballs Ronit is making" 🙁 )

So the next time Felix came here, I wanted to make the same meatballs, but I wasn't sure which one I made. Eventually, I made "Meatballs A-LA-RONIT". I gave some to Agi, and she tried it and said she would love to have the recipe to prepare for their guests coming for 2 month during the summer. Sure – I said, I'll write you the recipe and give you the spices. And the next time I prepared the meatballs, I even took pictures of all the steps

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Now, you must be thinking that I am great, being able to cook and take pictures and write recipes while having 4 kids somewhere in or out of the house

Well – look again on the top paragraphs. I wrote those last June and I am about to publish this post today – almost the end of January…

That's the way my life is right now. I have everything ready and organized and I just need to do the last thing. Finish it to the end – and that, my friends, can take me forever… my only excuse is "I have 4 kids" – that seems to do the job 🙂

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  So – Agi, it took me a long long time. but I did not forget. And this is dedicated to you and to Ronit
I hope you still have the spices I gave you 2 month ago when I promised (again) to publish this recipe that night

5 How to prepare  Meatballs A-LA-RONIT

Red=Updates

In a large bowl

Put 1.5-2 LB of ground beef.
No, I have no idea what kind, when I buy it – I just get ground beef

Add 2 eggs

Add 2 table spoons of bread crumbs
I like to use Osem plain bread crumbs, which you  can find at “Felipe’s”, but you can use any kind you like

Add 2 tea spoon of "Baharat" spice

 Add 2 tea spoon of "Ras El Hanut" spice

Add 1/2 tea spoon of Salt

Mix everything together and put it to cool in the refrigerator for 30 minutes

Meanwhile, in a large pot

Pure some oil into the pot
How much? I don't know. I'd say a thin layer covering the pot's bottom

   Open 2 cans of tomato paste
each can 5OZ

Warm the oil a little bit
About a minute – but don't let it burn and start smoking
Add the  tomato paste to the oil

Stir
Add about 2.5-3 Liter of boiling water

Add 2 tea spoon of "Baharat" spice

Add 2 tea spoon of "Ras El Hanut" spice

Add 1 tea spoon of Salt

Add 2 tea spoon of Sugar

Stir and bring to boil. Allow bubbling on lower heat for about 15-20 minutes

In the meanwhile, take out the beef from the refrigerator

Fill a small bowl with water

Wet your hand palms 
take a little bit of the beef in your hand and create a small ball
My kids love it when I make the balls "bite size", but according to Ronit they eat it very well when she makes them the size of "table tennis" ball
Put all the meatballs on a plate

Add the meatballs to the sauce
Don't add them all at once, or the sauce will get to cold.Add about 15-20 balls and let the sauce reach bubbling level again 

After all the balls are in the sauce, stir and bring to boil
Allow bubbling on lower heat for about an hour
If you feel there's not enough water in the pot, just add boiling water