Meatball recipes are terrific for so many reasons.

First of all, ground beef recipes are usually really tasty and this one is no exception.

Because ground beef is not expensive compared with other cuts of beef, meatballs are also often budget recipes.

Prep time: 20 minutes

Cook time: 1 hour, 15 minutes

Ingredients:
1 pound ground beef
1/4 cup uncooked rice
1/4 cup onion
1/4 teaspoon poultry seasoning
1/3 cup milk
1 1/4 teaspoons salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1/4 cup crushed crackers
2 teaspoons oil or shortening
1 can tomatoes
1 can cream of mushroom soup
3/4 cup hot water

Directions:
Combine the ground beef, rice, onion, poultry seasoning, milk, salt, pepper and crackers. Shape into balls and brown in oil or shortening. Add the tomatoes, cream of mushroom soup and hot water.

Using an electric frying pan to cook the meatballs, cook them covered, at 340°F for 1 1/4 hours. If you use a regular frying pan, cook them at medium low checking and stirring them often.

Serves 4 to 6

• The recipe calls for a can of cream of mushroom soup, but you can substitute the cream soup of your choice. Cream of celery, asparagus or broccoli would work well too.