Ingredients

• 1  egg
• 1/2  cup graham cracker crumbs
• 1/4  cup finely chopped onion
• 2  tablespoons snipped dried cranberries
• 2  tablespoons milk
•   Dash ground cloves
• 8  ounces ground cooked ham
• 8  ounces lean ground pork
•   Nonstick cooking spray
• 1  16-ounce can jellied cranberry sauce
• 1  12-ounce bottle chili sauce
• 1  tablespoon vinegar
• 1/2  teaspoon dry mustard
• 1  16-ounce package small cooked smoked sausage links

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350F. Lightly coat a 15x10x1-inch baking pan with cooking spray; set aside.

2. For meatballs, in a large bowl, use a fork to beat egg. Stir in graham cracker crumbs, onion, dried cranberries, milk, and cloves. Add ham and pork; mix well. Shape the mixture into 50 meatballs. Arrange in the prepared pan.

3. Bake for 15 minutes or until done (160F). checking with an instant-read thermometer*.

4. Meanwhile, for sauce, in a medium saucepan stir together cranberry sauce, chili sauce, vinegar, and dry mustard. Cook over medium heat until cranberry sauce is melted, stirring occasionally.

5. In a 3-1/2- to 5-quart slow cooker, combine meatballs and sausage. Pour sauce over mixture in cooker. Cover and cook on high-heat setting for 2 to 3 hours. Serve immediately or keep warm on low-heat setting for up to 2 hours. Serve meatballs and sausage with cocktail picks. Makes 25 servings.

6. Make-Ahead Directions: Prepare as directed through Step 3. Place baked meatballs on a tray; cover and freeze for 30 minutes. Transfer meatballs to a freezer bag. Seal, label, and freeze for up to 3 months. To use, transfer frozen meatballs to a 3-1/2-, 4-, or 5-quart slow cooker. Continue as directed in Steps 4 and 5, except cook for 3 hours on the high-heat setting.

7. Test Kitchen Tip: Looking at the internal color of a meatball is not the best way to know if it's thoroughly cooked. A beef or pork meatball cooked to 160F or a poultry meatball cooked to 165F is safe, regardless of color. To check the temperature, insert an instant-read thermometer into the center of a meatball.