You would think that when I go back home to see my mom {who lives in San Antonio and cooks like nobody's business} and she asks me what I want her to make me for dinner when I come to visit that I might bust out something like "chicken fried steak" or "King Ranch chicken" or "fried catfish" or something of the like, because she can make those things better than anyone else I know and I can't get those things in California.

The fact is whenever I go home, I beg her to make these meatballs.  Chinese style meatballs.  They are beyond amazing and I'm not quite sure how in the world she came to perfect an Asian-inspired dish like this, but she did!  And I LOVE them.  I know Italians have this thing with their meatballs and while I always enjoy a good Italian meatball, I'd take these Asian style over them any day.

Now, I've watched her make these the last 3 times I've been to visit and I swear the recipe is different every time.... but never once has the flavor been sacrificed or could I say that one was better the other.  They are always perfect and oh-so {eye-rolling-in-the-back-of-the-head}delicious.  I'm telling you this because if you are missing something like Chinese 5 spice, don't worry about it.  I know she didn't use it the first two times she made this; and I also know that she used plum sauce instead of the orange marmalade one time, so feel free to make those substitutions if it makes it easier or sounds better to you.

My husband, who suddenly after we got married developed an aversion to Asian food, said he thought these were better than Mama's {don't be mad, Ma}.   That's a lot coming from him, because he would certainly prefer to be eating some barbecue or good Tex-Mex when we're home, and yet--it never fails--he always ends up fighting with me over the last meatball!  What is it with meatballs and fighting, anyway?  [Don't hate me for watching smut TV]