SWEDISH MEATBALLS WITH GRAVY AND LINGONBERRY PRESERVES

Steps:

• Put bread crumbs and milk in large bowl.
• Stir.
• Soak 10 minutes.
• Add onion, eggs, allspice, nutmeg and pepper.
• Use wooden spoon to combine.
• Break meats into small bits with your hands.
• Add to bowl.
• Use wooden spoon to beat until mixture is well-mixed.
• Shape into 1 1/4-inch balls; handle gently and rinse hands often in water to keep mixture from sticking. (Easiest way to make them is to use small 1 1/4-inch diameter ice cream scoop, then gently shape with moistened hands.
• Alternately, use tablespoon and moistened hands to shape mixture into balls.)
• Arrange meatballs in single layer on lightly oiled baking sheet.
• Refrigerate until firm, about 2 hours.
• Heat 1 tablespoon butter and 1 tablespoon oil in 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium-high heat.
• Add meatballs in batches, without crowding.
• Cook until browned, shaking pan occasionally, about 5 minutes.
• Transfer to wide, shallow, oven-to-table casserole.
• Repeat with remaining meatballs, adding more butter and oil as needed.
• Reserve hot skillet, unwashed, for making gravy.
• Add onion to reserved skillet.
• Cook over medium heat until softened, stirring often, about 4 minutes.
• Add flour; cook 1 minute.
• Stir in consomme.
• Stir until thickened, about 4 minutes.
• Add cream.
• Stir until hot.
• Taste and season with salt and pepper.
• Strain gravy and pour over meatballs.
• Cover casserole with lid or foil.
• Bake at 300 degrees, shaking several times to shift meatballs, until just heated through, about 45 minutes.
• Cool 20 minutes.
• Use slotted spoon to set meatballs aside; skim fat from gravy.
• Put meatballs back in gravy.
• Reheat at 300 degrees until hot, 10 to 20 minutes.
• (Can be refrigerated up to 3 days or frozen for 1 month. Let come to room temperature before reheating. Reheat, covered, in 300 degree oven until hot, about 45 minutes to 1 hour.).
• Serve hot, spooned over dilled noodles.
• Pass lingonberry preserves separately.