Great grandparents Grampa Adolph
Grampa Adolph worked in the brickyard in the small town of Troy, Idaho. He was a quiet man who barely spoke and when he did he had a broken accent. His parents had emigrated from Sweden and while his older siblings were born there, he was born in America.
He married Elva Sodestrom and they had three girls who were raised in a loving but strict household. My mother was the eldest of these girls and has always treasured her Swedish heritage. Elva was a feisty little lady who made the best cinnamon rolls, maple bars and sweets. She left an indelible impression that has never faded.
My mother never forgot her Swedish roots and continued with the tradition of making these special meatballs. She would make large batches for family reunions and when she came to Saudi she enlisted the kids help in rolling and frying them.
As you will see these meatballs are not low-fat! I am sure you can alter this recipe to make it less fatty which I have tried a few times. I am posting the original recipe not a low fat version!
Ingredients
2 pounds ground beef
1 cup finely chopped onions
2 eggs slightly beaten
1 cup milk
1 cup fine bread crumbs
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
Sauce
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup flour
4 beef bouillon cubes
3 cups hot water
1 1/2 cups milk
1 1/2 cups light cream or half and half
Butter for frying meatballs
Directions
Soften breadcrumbs in milk
Mix ground beef, breadcrumbs and all other meatball ingredients until well combined
Roll ground beef mixture into 1 inch balls
Place a small amount of butter in a large saute pan and brown meatballs on all sides. Fry until thoroughly cooked. You will have to work in batches with this larger recipe. When cooked, remove to a baking dish.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Mix water and bouillon cubes on medium heat until dissolved, set aside. Melt 1/2 cup butter and add flour, mix until smooth and bubbly. Add milk, cream and bouillon to flour mixture and stir until smooth and thickened. Pour sauce over meatballs and bake in oven an additional 30 minutes.
My mother’s original directions are listed below. I changed them a bit to suit my needs.
Sounds delicious! I remember Elva and Adolph – and Elva ALWAYS had a plate of goodies “ready” whenever we stopped by! ❤
LikeLike
Most appetising. Will your antecedents appear in your book?
LikeLike
Thanks derrick! We will see
LikeLiked by 1 person
Perhaps they show where you got your strength from
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you derrick! There are parts where I have looked back but you have inspired me!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I wasn’t sure if that would be interesting but yes I have some of that history. Now that you mention it I will continue! Thank you
LikeLiked by 1 person
love the old photos and old family recipe! always the best!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes I agree! Thanks so much Jodi!
LikeLike
Wonderful tradition!
LikeLike
Thanks!
LikeLike
Yum! Looks delish!
LikeLike
Thanks!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sounds yummy!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks
LikeLike
These old recipe should are the best!!! I hope you will include some of them in your cookbook or maybe write another cookbook!! 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much dear Alice! xoxo
LikeLike
Recipes handed down can be some of the best! These look super-yummy, who cares about the fat! xo
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks KR! xoxo
LikeLiked by 1 person
They look delicious, sister 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks sis!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yum yum!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Peter!
LikeLiked by 1 person
We love our Swedish meatballs here too. Thanks for the recipe, Lynn.
Leslie
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Leslie
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLike
Yum, Köttbullar! I love making them and the kids love to eat them… lol!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Erika!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are welcome, Lynn 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
I wouldn’t change a thing! I would just be very stingy with the gravy on my portion. 🙂 They sound wonderful!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for sharing your grandmother’s recipe, Lynn. I love recipes with something a little different in them – like nutmeg. Who would have thought? I’m going to give this a try!
LikeLike
This looks delicious!
LikeLike
I love old recipes and also love nutmeg it seems to be getting a revival in lots of new recipes Lately as well.. 🙂
LikeLike
This looks yummy! I think I had something similar in Sweden years ago. Wanted to ask for seconds but was too shy – afterwards I saw the leftovers in the dog’s bowl! awww
I’ve been making a lot of meatballs lately. I haven’t settled yet on any one recipe over another, but they are great when expecting a crowd around. Pork and veal mince also makes a great, although lighter meatball. I’ve only been coating mine lightly in sauce so they can be eaten with a toothpick. I’ve also found them very useful for my brother who has trouble digesting anything as he has stomach and oesophagus cancer. Do they freeze once they’ve had the sauce added?
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am not sure how they freeze. Your story about the dog and the meatballs is hilarious!
LikeLiked by 1 person
When’s dinner?????
LikeLiked by 1 person
Any time for you!
LikeLike
The title should have been warning enough to ‘come back later.’ 🙂 Now I’m hungry! These sound divine.
LikeLiked by 1 person
haha thanks Steph!
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLike
Oh my! I bet these are scrumptious! I love the old photos. I would incorporate this part of your life in your book.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much! Another friend mentioned that as well. I have done that a little bit but will keep it up! Thanks for the input!
LikeLiked by 1 person
They look and sound delicious!! YUMM!! xoxox
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks xoxo
LikeLiked by 1 person
These sound fantastic (probably in part because they are definitely not low fat).
LikeLiked by 1 person
yes I agree haha
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Lynn. These look delicious. 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
xoxo
LikeLiked by 1 person
The meatballs look delicious. I enjoyed reading about your Swedish roots. Good photos.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much xo
LikeLike
Looks so good! I loved visiting Sweden…it’s amazing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Mmmmm yum ! I haven’t had a meatball in years !!!! Thanks for sharing Lynn 🙂 xxx
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks lynne xxx
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yummy!😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lynz, this is like looking at my grandmother or mother cooking meatballs! I had to laugh at how this is not low in calories…this seems to so true for many Swedish recipes from my grandmother’s time. My mother now drastically reduces the sugar etc in baking recipes! Lovely to learn about Adolph and Elva! They’ve already made quite an impression on me from your descriptions (quite the writer!). 😀❤️
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much dear Annika!! Wow maybe we are related ❤️😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh also my mom and dad went to Sweden to meet her family and it was a very exciting trip. This was about 15 years ago.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Have you ever been to Sweden? Would you have a chance with some of your family? It’s wonderful that your parents had an opportunity … I bet they met a lot of family.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have never been but my daughter studied in spain and she went for a week to sweden to meet family. She said it was beautiful! I think most of elvas family is still in sweden.by the way she was the youngest of eleven kids!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Lynne, I had to share this blog and recipe with Don. He really remembers your grandparents and great grandmother when she lived with Aunt Ruth. The first time I went to a Swedish “potluck” with your relatives, I was overwhelmed with all the tasty food and never got over it. I adored your grandmother Elva and do remember Adolph was very quiet. Such fond memories. Thanks for sharing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much for this wonderful comment Ellen! Elva was such a special person and so was Adolph. Please say hi to Don for me! It is a warm feeling to share these memories. ❤️thank you
LikeLike
Aww, my great Grandparents came from Sweden. They chose New England (Rockport Massachusetts) since the rocky ocean view reminded them of fjords and Swedish boating and shipping port towns. 💕 My Grandpa didn’t know any recipes so mainly I was raised with my German Grandma who mainly made delicious desserts and breakfast kuchen and strudels. Yummy!
I may try this Swedish meatballs recipe someday! Thanks, Lynn! 💕
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yumm that sounds so good Robin! Maybe we are cousins ❤️❤️
LikeLike
Hello. How are you doing? Happy St Patrick’s Day. Enjoyed reading this post and the history. I wish I had my grandparents recipe’s although Mark has his Grandma Helen’s recipe’s that I have been copying and hope to you in our blogs. You are a very lucky to have those. Look forward to reading more.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for visiting and commenting!
LikeLike
these meatballs sound amazing…who cares about low fat…lets enjoy xx
LikeLiked by 1 person
So true
LikeLiked by 1 person