A Kid in the Kitchen: Mad for Meatballs

We asked Matisse Reid, our favorite 11-year-old foodie, to try some meatballs. Here's her report.

"I was really excited to make these meatballs because my most favorite meat in the world is lamb. And lamb with mint? Even better! This recipe was really easy to make, and we already had most of the ingredients on hand. To mix the ingredients together, wash your hands and dig in; or, if you aren't comfortable with touching raw meat, you can wear plastic disposable gloves. The tomato sauce for this recipe is really good and is spiced (not spicy!), so I think you will love it as much as I did. The meatballs were flavorful enough without the sauce, too. My family could not resist the smell while I was cooking and all piled into the kitchen. Next time, I will double the recipe because it was gobbled up in no time!"

THE VERDICT

• Fraanz (age 8): He usually doesn't eat lamb, but I didn't tell him the meatballs had lamb in them. Shhh—don't say anything. 10 out of 10
• Kalani (age 14): Wow! A rating that high is saying something, coming from him. 10 out of 10
• Matisse: I love the way the lamb and mint flavors marry together. The smell of these cooking reminded me of a Sunday roast. 10 out of 10

View Recipe: Meatballs with Spiced Tomato Sauce