Pumpkin Hush Puppy Meatballs

Name: Pumpkin Hush Puppy Meatballs
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 1 h 10 min
Yield: about 4 dozen.
Ingredients: 1-1/2 cups yellow cornmeal; 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour; 2-1/4 teaspoons baking powder; 1-1/2 teaspoons salt; 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper; 1 can (15 ounces) pumpkin; 2 green onions, sliced; 1 tablespoon seeded jalapeno pepper, minced; 1-1/2 pounds bulk Italian sausage; 2 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese; 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, cubed and softened; Jalapeno pepper jelly

My Italian husband enjoys a variety of meatballs. I adore pumpkin, so I decided to combine our two favorites and make sausage and pumpkin meatballs. These are extra great because you can make them ahead and freeze until you plan on serving. —Paula Marchesi, Lenhartsville, Pennsylvania

Ingredients

1-1/2 cups yellow cornmeal
1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2-1/4 teaspoons baking powder
1-1/2 teaspoons salt
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 can (15 ounces) pumpkin
2 green onions, sliced
1 tablespoon seeded jalapeno pepper, minced
1-1/2 pounds bulk Italian sausage
2 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese
1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, cubed and softened
Jalapeno pepper jelly

Directions

Preheat oven to 375°. Whisk together first five ingredients. Stir in pumpkin, green onions and jalapeno. Add sausage, Jack cheese and cream cheese; mix lightly but thoroughly.
With wet hands, shape mixture into 1-1/2-in. balls. Place on parchment paper-lined 15x10x1-in. pans.
Bake until cooked through, 40-45 minutes, rotating pans halfway.
Serve with pepper jelly.