Mom's Christmas Swedish Meatballs

Finely dice the onion and sauté gently in a little butter without browning. Soak the breadcrumbs in milk. Blend the ground meat, preferably in a food processor, with the onion, egg, milk/breadcrumb mixture and the spices to the proper consistency and taste. Add a little water if the mixture feels too firm. Check the taste by test-frying one meatball. Then shape small meatballs with the aid of two spoons and place on water-rinsed plates. Brown a generous pat of butter in a frying pan, and when it “goes quiet,” place the meatballs in the pan and let them brown on all sides. Shake the frying pan often. Serve with mashed potatoes or boiled potatoes and raw stirred lingonberries. Serves 4 to 6.