Cooking with the Dutchess

Since this is my first article for La Prensa, I’d like to introduce myself to you. My name is Hanneke Eerden, I’m a Dutch woman, born, raised and still living in The Netherlands (Europe). A small country famous for the tulips, wooden clogs and windmills. But I have to admit, I don’t live in a mill, don’t wear wooden shoes but I do have tulips in my garden!
    Ever since I can remember my Mom spent a huge amount of time in the kitchen, cooking and baking, while I sat at the kitchen counter watching her and asking way too many questions, impatiently waiting until I could try to make dishes like Mom’s! She really can cook fabulous meals and produces the most delicious cakes and pies. One thing is certain, I’m so happy I inherited her love for cooking!
    No doubt, between my Mom’s recipes and mine, there is a major generation gap. The way I cook is more internationally inspired. I was very happy when it became possible to stroll on the internet, where the whole world came within my reach on the search for new experiences, methods and ingredients!  It also became possible now to order international cook books for example, and that was so tempting. One of my addictions is collecting cook books, and that habit was quite manageable until the moment I started ordering books from the United States: I desperately need a new and bigger bookcase! 
    Trying out new recipes from all over the world can be really exciting! It’s not always easy to get the right ingredients and sometimes even impossible but then it’s a challenge to try to get as close to the original as possible.
    Another great source is Social Media like Twitter and Facebook, a perfect way to meet people from all over the world who share the same interest as you do. Many of my friends I met through Social Media live in the United States and it will be obvious that most of them have a passion for food. Whether it’s to cook, bake, barbeque etc., it’s great to share recipes and when you’re in need of advice there’s always someone who helps you out! It has certainly changed my way of cooking, and above all, barbeque has become a new and important part of my cooking methods.
    When you try so many new recipes, you must have a proper way to store them. I love to share them, so I started my own website <a href="http://www.TheDutchessCooks.com">www.TheDutchessCooks.com</a>&nbsp… year, and must admit it’s so much fun! It’s not my goal to develop fancy new recipes, but rather my thought is to share the things I make and I hope people will enjoy them too!
    One of the first things I learned to make was meatballs, through my Mom’s advice. She said: “When you can’t make meatballs, forget the rest.” So therefore, I’m going to start with a recipe for exactly that, just for you and Mom – Meatballs!
    As always ~ Bon Appétit!
Spicy Meatballs
1 lb. ground beef (lean) 
1 egg 
1 tablespoon dried parsley 
4 tablespoons barbeque sauce (choose your favorite, I used Big Butz BBQ Sauce Original) 
10 thin slices chorizo, finely chopped 
4 tablespoons jalapeño, finely chopped 
Pepper/salt 
Panko (dried bread crumbs that can be found in the Oriental section of your grocery store)
    In a large bowl mix the egg with the parsley, barbeque sauce, chorizo, jalapeno, pepper and salt. After that you can add the beef, and stir it in. Then add the panko (start with adding ¼ cup panko, you can always add more if necessary). Shape the mixture into balls (I made 4 of them). The easiest way to do that is with damp hands.
    Let them rest for about 30 minutes in the fridge (cover with foil).
    After 30 minutes, you can cook the meatballs. Heat olive oil or butter (I like butter for these ones) in a large, wide pan. Add the meatballs and fry them for about 5 minutes (don’t forget to turn them frequently) until they are nicely browned. Let them simmer for 20-25 minutes more.

Author

Hanneke Eerden