Chinese Meatball Soup

Meatballs:
1 pound lean ground beef, chuck or sirloin
3/4 cup oatmeal or bread crumbs
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon dry sherry
2 teaspoons sesame oil
1 1/2 teaspoons fresh ginger, minced finely
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 cup chicken broth
1 egg

Soup:
2 (14 ounce) cans chicken broth
1 cup water
1 (6 ounce) package frozen snow pea pods
1/2 pound baby carrots, cut in half
1 1/2 cups fresh or canned bean sprouts
1/2 cup green onions, thinly sliced
1 1/2-inch cube fresh ginger, finely grated
1 clove garlic, finely minced
Olive oil for roasting

Combine soup ingredients in large saucepan over low heat to simmer (reserve snow pea pods and carrots for broiling or stir frying).

Prepare meatballs: stir ingredients together, shape into 1 1/4-inch meatballs and place on lightly oiled broiler pan. Spray lightly with an olive oil spray if using very lean meat. Broil until nicely browned or bake at 400 degrees F for 15 minutes.

To roast the baby carrots, cut carrots in half, lengthwise. Rub in one or 2 tablespoons olive oil, and sprinkle between the meatballs on the broiler pan. Do the same with the thawed snow peas. Check while broiling, and remove carrots, snow peas and meatballs as they begin to brown. Drain on paper towels briefly and add to soup. If you wish to skip this step, you may alternatively brown the meatballs, snow peas and carrots in a wok.

With all ingredients now in soup, simmer over low heat for 15 to 20 minutes and season to taste with salt, pepper, a pinch of Chinese Red Pepper, if desired, and a dash of soy sauce.