Little Latin Meatballs (Albondiguitas)

Ingredients

Meatballs

• 2 jalapeño peppers
• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup dry bread crumbs
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1/4 cup shredded Monterey jack cheese
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper

Salsa

• 1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
• 1 medium tomato, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
• 2 tablespoons snipped parsley
• 1 tablespoon vinegar
• 1/8 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/8 teaspoon salt

Instructions

1. Meatballs: Remove stems, seeds and membranes from peppers; chop peppers.
2. Mix peppers, beef, egg, bread crumbs, milk, cheese, onions, salt and pepper. Shape mixture into 1-inch balls.
3. Place in an ungreased 13 x 9-inch baking dish.
4. Bake uncovered at 400 degrees F until brown, 15 to 20 minutes.
5. Serve with salsa.
6. Salsa: Heat all ingredients.

Makes 36 meatballs.