Kitten’s Meatballs In Pineapple Sweet And Sour Sauce

• 2 pounds ground beef
• oil (for frying)
• 2 (14 ounce) cans pineapple tidbits, drained and reserve juice
• 1/4 cup cider vinegar (can use less)
• 3/4 cup brown sugar, packed
• 1 small bottle Kraft Russian salad dressing
• 1 (10-ounce  OR 350 ml) jar sweet and sour sauce
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 2 large garlic cloves, minced
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• fresh ground black pepper, optional and to taste
• sugar, if needed
• 2 medium carrots, sliced
• 2 small green bell peppers, seeded and chopped OR sliced (or use 1 large)
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch (optional)
• 1/4 cup cold water, optional

Instructions:——————————-

1. Prepare the ground beef into meatballs using your favorite recipe for meatballs, and shape into about 1-inch balls.
2. Heat oil in a skillet, and brown the meatballs until no longer pink (you can also bake them in the oven) set aside.
3. Drain the 2 cans of pineapple tidbits; set pineapple tidbits aside.
4. If needed, add water to the juice to measure 2 cups then place in a large saucepan (if the juice from the cans measures more than 2 cups add in all the juice with no water).
5. To the juice/water mixture stir in vinegar, brown sugar and soy sauce, garlic, salad dressing, sweet and sour sauce, salt and pepper; bring to a simmer (adding in more brown sugar or white sugar to taste if desired).
6. When the sauce is to desired taste add in the cooked meatballs and carrots.
7. Simmer for about 25-30 minutes or until carrots are crisp-tender.
8. Stir in green pepper, and reserved pineapple tidbits; cover and simmer for about 10-15 minutes longer or until green pepper is crisp-tender (do not over cook the peppers!).
9. This step is only optional; for a thicker a thicker sauce, in a small bowl combine cornstarch and water until smooth, and stir into the meatball mixture; bring to a simmer then cook,stirring for about 2 minutes or until sauce has thickened.
10. Serve over rice.