porcupines for dinner!
By Kelli M
@spiderdust (14756)
San Jose, California
February 28, 2021 8:42pm CST
We haven't had these for a little while, and every time I post about them, at least one or two people think we're actually eating a porcupine.
These are beef meatballs made with rice in the mixture. In fact, the mixture is very similar to what one might use to make stuffed peppers. As they cook, the rice pokes out of the meatball like spikes, which is why they get the nickname "porcupines".
I grew up eating them simmered in a tomato sauce, but the stepkids' mother used to just brown them in a skillet without the sauce. As a compromise, since I'm not sure how to brown them while making sure the rice cooks through (crunchy rice = 
), these days I simmer the meatballs in beef stock.
I'm serving them with a bagged Caesar salad on the side. What are you having (or did you have) for dinner?
), these days I simmer the meatballs in beef stock.
I'm serving them with a bagged Caesar salad on the side. What are you having (or did you have) for dinner?20 people like this
19 responses
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
1 Mar 21
Grilled cheese sandwich and an apple, and a cherry limeade. Lunch was a salad.
2 people like this
@spiderdust (14756)
• San Jose, California
1 Mar 21
Ooh, I do like a grilled cheese.
1 person likes this
@spiderdust (14756)
• San Jose, California
7 Mar 21
@thelme55 I know a tiny bit of German... I've been learning it on the Duolingo app, 15 mins a day.
1 person likes this
@stephcjh (38473)
• United States
6 Mar 21
@spiderdust That is a great idea. You can always come up with some kind of odds and ends by doing that.
1 person likes this
@spiderdust (14756)
• San Jose, California
6 Mar 21
That's something I make when I'm trying to clean out the fridge or to stretch a small amount of meat.
1 person likes this
@DianneN (254949)
• United States
3 Mar 21
@spiderdust Yes, that and the fact that we needed our comfort food. We had some dreary and freezing days.
1 person likes this
@spiderdust (14756)
• San Jose, California
3 Mar 21
@DianneN I think I was in a comfort food mood when I made the porcupines too. They do make for a cozy meal.
That reminds me, I still need to figure out what I'm making for tonight's dinner. 
1 person likes this
@spiderdust (14756)
• San Jose, California
3 Mar 21
A few people have had meatloaf this week. It's definitely a good excuse to have the oven on so it can warm up the kitchen! 
1 person likes this
@just4him (323168)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
6 Mar 21
@spiderdust Thank you. It was good.
1 person likes this
@spiderdust (14756)
• San Jose, California
7 Mar 21
@just4him I love sauteed mushrooms and onions, but few other people in my household do. I'd have ordered those too!
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (59106)
•
2 Mar 21
My family always loved porcupines, and yes, we always make them in a tomato sauce. My own kids think you should have to serve them with mashed potatoes, but if there is a sauce or gravy involved on anything, they think they need potatoes. I almost always cook dinner, but today I was super busy and I cheated with leftover soup that I made yesterday. These sound so good I may have to make them sometime soon.
1 person likes this
@spiderdust (14756)
• San Jose, California
6 Mar 21
I think they don't need the potatoes because they have rice inside, but I have seen people serving them with mashed potatoes too.
1 person likes this
@spiderdust (14756)
• San Jose, California
7 Mar 21
@MarieCoyle There's an Amish chicken & noodles recipe that I love, and apparently it's traditionally served over mashed potatoes too!
@MarieCoyle (59106)
•
7 Mar 21
@spiderdust My kids and grands use any excuse they can think of to have mashed potatoes!
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (189793)
• Boise, Idaho
1 Mar 21
Sounds like leftover stuffed pepper makin's. I had beef and corn for dinner.
1 person likes this
@spiderdust (14756)
• San Jose, California
1 Mar 21
No leftovers tonight, they ate them all up!
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (189793)
• Boise, Idaho
2 Mar 21
@spiderdust ......Clear sign of good food.
1 person likes this
@GreatMartin (23670)
• Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
1 Mar 21
I had chicken with rice, a salad, mixed fruit and a cup of Luigi's cherry ices! (But I could have room for a porcupine!!!
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (97912)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
1 Mar 21
That sounds very delicious. I had french fries with baked beans.
1 person likes this
@spiderdust (14756)
• San Jose, California
1 Mar 21
I haven't made baked beans in a while. Maybe I should correct that.
2 people like this
@1creekgirl (44560)
• United States
1 Mar 21
That looks yummy...haven't had them in years.
1 person likes this
@spiderdust (14756)
• San Jose, California
1 Mar 21
I make them every now and then. It worked tonight as a meat-stretcher but was faster than meatloaf.
1 person likes this
@spiderdust (14756)
• San Jose, California
6 Mar 21
I do prefer them with the tomato gravy, even though the kids don't. It's just how I had them growing up.
1 person likes this
@andriaperry (118793)
• Anniston, Alabama
1 Mar 21
I'm fat, no dinner for me.
Those look amazing
1 person likes this
@oahuwriter (26773)
• United States
1 Mar 21
Sounds so yummy. I just had tuna salad wraps made with head lettuce. Got some fresh boiled peanuts and black grapes today, so I ate them too. I love stuffed bell peppers.
1 person likes this
@spiderdust (14756)
• San Jose, California
1 Mar 21
I love them too, but the kids only like to eat raw peppers. I should make a batch of stuffed pepper soup sometime soon... not everyone will eat it, but I can have it on hand for my lunches.
1 person likes this
@oahuwriter (26773)
• United States
2 Mar 21
@spiderdust
It's good to eat what you like, on your own, even if family doesn't care for it. I believe in eat your craves.
@spiderdust (14756)
• San Jose, California
3 Mar 21
Nope, just a silly name for meatballs made with rice in the mixture!
1 person likes this
@kaylachan (84703)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
1 Mar 21
Cooked hamburger with speggeti. My husband wants meat sauce, and I'll have mine with chease.
1 person likes this
@spiderdust (14756)
• San Jose, California
1 Mar 21
Ah, no sauce on the spaghetti for you? My stepson prefers his that way too.
1 person likes this
@paigea (36143)
• Canada
1 Mar 21
@spiderdust stuffing, potatoes, gravy - beans for me, carrots for Hubby
1 person likes this
@spiderdust (14756)
• San Jose, California
1 Mar 21
Did you have anything on the side?
1 person likes this
@spiderdust (14756)
• San Jose, California
1 Mar 21
I first heard about them when I was little. I liked the little spiky meatballs with the silly name.
1 person likes this
@spiderdust (14756)
• San Jose, California
2 Mar 21
Did you read my post? Your question is answered in it.
1 person likes this
@spiderdust (14756)
• San Jose, California
3 Mar 21
@sophie09 I said that sauteeing something with raw rice in it would make crunchy rice.
I also said how I made them instead.
