Swedish Meatballs with JJ and Family

To all those who read this I must add the following disclaimer: I didn’t meet Officer Jim Johnson by way of handcuffs, unpaid parking tickets or a drug bust. However, even if I had met him by way of running into the law I know he wouldn’t have treated me any differently. JJ, Hellgate High School’s resident police officer (formal title School Resource Officer), is a known figure in the halls of Hellgate and is almost always seen donning red and gold at our sporting events. Though his towering stature and badge may be intimidating, JJ couldn’t be less than a friend to anyone he meets. JJ has the loving personality of a teddy bear; a really big teddy bear who has to duck his head to walk through any door way, (pardon my slight exaggeration).

When JJ heard about my senior project he immediately shared that he had a family recipe that could fit the bill. This was not uncharacteristic of JJ, he goes out of his way to reach out to those in need. We struggled to find a time to meet and cook up some meatballs. After months of chasing this cop down, he finally pulled over and we settled on a date. (Apologies the pun was just to good).

On a sunny April afternoon I am charmed by the presence of JJ’s two sisters when I meet him in the culinary room. I am very excited to get cooking the Swedish meatballs that JJ has told me so much about during our brief encounters in the halls.

JJ’s father was an authentic lefse-making, lutefisk-eating Norwegian. He started the tradition of making these meatballs every Christmas eve. Though the family is spread out now, from Seattle to North Dakota, the Grandchildren still demand the meatballs with gravy every Christmas eve. “It just wouldn’t be Christmas without the meatballs.” JJ’s sister Sandy and I start on the meatballs, checking measurements with the hand-written recipe. While JJ peels and chops up the potatos Judy, JJ’s other sister, sits by and checks on our work. For years Judy was the champion lefse “roller” in the family until a couple of years ago when a stroke left her in a wheel chair. Her spirit hasn’t been damaged and she still manages to help us out, filling in the gaps of the stories and encouraging our efforts.

We get to the rolling step, making about 30 meatballs and dropping them into the electric skillet. The second they hit the oil I can smell spices and Worcestershire sauce, making a memory of my own in our little culinary room at Hellgate. I start taking notes and learn that Sandy and Judy are only two of JJ’s seven sisters. “That’s why I am so feminine,” JJ jokes. We keep the humor light hearted as the room fills with the thick aroma of sizzling meat. I see another side of JJ when he is with his family. They call him “sonny”, a nickname that stuck from way back when.

Dinner is coming a long and my stomach is starting to growl as the starchy liquid of the potatoes starts to boil. I ask him what is so special about the meatballs. Why he holds them so dear? With this he stopped washing the dishes and turned toward me. “Just being with family.” He pauses before he adds, “…and making sure I got enough.” With seven sisters and a brother each kid only got three or four meatballs a piece, and that was with four lbs of ground meat in the mix. The potatoes are starting to get tender and our meatballs are crisping up. We transfer the meatballs to a baking pot and place them in the oven to keep warm while we make the gravy. Their Dad was always the one to make the gravy. Sandy is almost nervous as we measure out the ingredients. “I hope this turns out,” she says as she measures the flour. Though a bit worried myself we break up the lumps and keep on trucking til the gravy turns a coffee with cream color. The gravy looks good and I am thrilled when the potatoes are ready.

I sit down to eat with the Johnson family, and as I take the first bite the “homey” flavor warms my mouth; I can almost taste the memories. The gravy wraps around me like a blanket. If it wasn’t so bright and sunny outside it’d feel like the middle of winter. I am in pure meat and potatoes heaven. I can now see why one of the Johnson sisters (who wasn’t present at our gathering) requested the meatballs at her wedding reception. The whole family pitched in to make the 400 plus meatballs. By the time the church bells rang every family member had meatballs bursting out of the freezer.

Halfway through the meal JJ’s wife Laurie, who came in just in time to get a plate, says I definitely picked the best senior project. I couldn’t agree more. As I am writing this post we seniors have about a week until senior projects are due. While other seniors are choping at the bit, counting down the hours until we toss our caps at graduation, I am getting sentimental…looking forward to the future but not quite ready to leave the red lockers and tall staircases behind. Cleaning up the culinary room JJ washes, Sandy dries and everyone is helping put bowls away. JJ comments on the knives, thinking like a policeman how it would only take one angry kid to use those knives for more than chopping onions. I smile at this, maybe I am ready to leave high school.

Swedish Meatballs

1 lb. ground beef

1/2 lb. ground pork sausage

1/2 cup onion

3/4 cup dry bread

1 Tbls Parsley (dried)

2 tsp salt

1/8 tsp pepper

1 tsp Worcestershire sauce

1 egg

1/2 cup milk

Combine ingredients and mix well. Roll into ball shape and place in electric skillet (350) with cooking oil. When cooked place in oven to keep warm while you make the gravy. (Use the same pan for the gravy)

Gravy

1/4 cup flour

1 tsp paprika

1/2 tsp salt

1/8 tsp pepper

3/4 cup sour cream

2 cups of water

Add flour, paprika, salt, and pepper to pan juices. When combined add water and sour cream. Stir until gravy consistency. Pour over meatballs with potatoes and enjoy this piece of heaven!