joy of cooking swedish meatballs

Get delicious recipes, food cures, kitchen hacks, and motivation from Joy Bauer delivered right to your inbox! Whisk in the beef stock, stirring vigorously to break up any lumps. Stir in the flour until well combined. Bring the whole thing to a simmer, and stir in the garlic powder and Worcestershire sauce. Heat the oil in a skillet; brown the meatballs. Add meatballs to gravy and stir to coat. Hi, Koren! Meatball Ingredients: 1 slice bread, 1 inch thick Milk to soak the bread 1 lb meat - lb. Broccoli Microgreen-Quinoa Salad with Roasted Garlic Dressing, Two Refreshing Cocktails for the 4th of July. The sauce will eventually start to thicken. NancyI think its my own Scandinavian heritage that makes me love them so much! Meanwhile, cook noodles according to package directions. ground beef, lb. 12 cup all-purpose flour 2 tablespoons olive oil directions Mix all ingredients up to the dried oregano with your hands. Mix together meatball ingredients. Now theyre big and Im cooking in my tiny Utah kitchen. Let's just say they go faster than we can wind our way through the entire store and find the exit! That way, when its time to serve day-of, all you really have to make is the gravy! Remove from oven and set aside. (And dont forget extra packet of the gravy!). Swedish Meatballs Recipe . MAKE ROUX: Add a cup butter to the pan. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Add the onions to the pan and cook until softened. Step 3: Pour the remaining oil into the pan and cook the second batch. Thank you. I guess its time to do some updating. Ive felt so fulfilled and so exhausted at the same time. Whisk in flour and cook, whisking, until raw flour smell is gone, about 3 minutes. The sauce will eventually start to thicken. Full disclosure: I dont have a long, celebrated family history with Swedish meatballs, no recipe passed down from generations or inspired by a beloved aunt or grandparent. Simmer until meatballs are no longer pink inside, about 10 minutes. In a small bowl add the beef broth, cream of mushroom soup, gravy packet contents, garlic powder, and water. With clean hands, mix all of the meatball ingredients (except for the broth) in a large mixing bowl until a giant meatball is formed. Youve got the rolling, youve got the baking, youve got the gravy-making. ground pork 3/4 lb. Baking the Teriyaki Meatballs Recipe Try them over a bed of steamy rice or with toothpicks as an appetizer. Stir in vinegar and soy sauce and bring to a boil. My Swedish moms homemade Swedish Meatballs are the ulitmate comfort food! In a small bowl, combine the oats and milk and set aside for about 5 minutes. Bread crumbs, on the other hand, even when fully soaked in milk, produced denser, drier meatballs. flour The meatball mixture will be a little wetter than most meatball recipes youve probably made, and thats how it should be! Will try again and update. I am usually in a hurry to get dinner on the table, so an ice cream scoop and misshaped meatballs suits me just fine. Recipe for Swedish meatballs Ingredients (4-6 servings) Meatballs 500 g (18 oz) ground (minced) beef/pork mixture 150 ml (4/5 cup) milk 75 g ( cup) white breadcrumbs 1 egg 1 onion salt, white pepper ground allspice Brown gravy 2 tbsp butter 2 tbsp wheat flour 4 dl meat stock dl double cream 2 tsp Chinese soy sauce 1 pinch black pepper They are perfect for holiday meals or dinner club or just a little something extra when youre looking for a good reason to live your best life. . We're sorry, we're not quite ready! The most time consuming part is rolling the meatballs but even that is easy and can even be done and refrigerated beforehand! Cover to keep warm. So many possibilities, though, just meant that I had plenty of freedom to come up with a recipe that delivered what I wanted in my Swedish meatballs, whether it adhered to someone else's idea of what's correct or not. Keep the meatballs uniform in size, about 1 inch in diameter. In the meantime dice the onion and fry gently in a little butter/olive oil without browning. Feel free to omit the salt in the sauce if you're watching sodium levels. This should take roughly 6-8 minutes. Cant go wrong with Swedish meatballs, my family devoured this meal. Flavorful meatballs are tinged with the warm spice of nutmeg and served in a creamy gravy, making for a comforting dish the whole family will love. This will ensure the meatballs get crispy instead of steamy! To find out, I mixed up various batches. Allspiceisinthis recipe on Sweden's official websitebut it says that the gravy isn't required and, in fact, should be skipped if the meatballs are going to be part of a traditional smorgasbord. You miss the point of being Swedish by not adding the spices. Step 3: Add in finishing ingredients. Gravy is made by combining flour and nutmeg in a medium-heat saute pan with butter. I think you cracked the code for me :). This will be my go-to svenska ball recipe from now on, Your email address will not be published. Now Im confused. Garnish with chopped parsley. Though they were thoroughly overcooked and aggressively beaten into the meat with the stand mixer, those little pasta stars didn't break down one bit. We honesty! Beef and pork are the most common meats in Swedish meatballs, though some folks throw veal in there, too. Full disclosure: I don't have a long, celebrated family history with Swedish meatballs, no recipe passed down from generations or inspired by a beloved aunt or grandparent. Allow the meatballs to cool. For the meatballs: 1. Then they started to fall apart. I ended up with star-studded meatballs. Ive had many readers tell me they do it that way and love it! Add the olive oil, onion, carrot, and celery and saute over low heat until lightly caramelized, about 12 minutes. For the Swedish Meatballs: Combine the ground beef and ground pork in a large bowl. Once butter is melted, add onions and cook until soft and translucent. The batch I made last night was the best ever! (making swedish meatballs right now) Who knew about mixing the meat. Since the meatballs tend to be on the small side, they didn't brown sufficiently in the time it took to cook them through. Heat the butter in a large, heavy-bottomed skillet over medium heat. If youve never tried rutabaga, you must! (I do this in a non-stick skillet.) 2.Put all of the ingredients for the meatballs into a large bowl and mix with a hand mixer until completely combined and light and fluffy. In a separate bowl combine the tomato with water and mix well. Great blog. In the last couple of years, I learned that chefs don't just put things on plates to look pretty; they put specific items on a plate to balance out a dish. This question of springiness led to my other meat decision: how to mix it. Sadly, it didn't work. This is a classic, and family friendly recipe that is fast and delicious. Swedish Meatballs butter c. finely chopped onion 3 tbsp. When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Oh yes, these look absolutely awesome! The tradition is thought to have started with the Vikings, who would have eaten them as a way to preserve meat during the winter months. Copyright 2022 CafeJohnsonia.com All Rights Reserved. The brown sugar and salt work together very nicely and the gravy with the addition of Worcestershire sauce was wonderful. Maybe good for a tongue-in-cheek July 4th celebration; not good for anything else. Then, I simmer them in a lightened-up yet completely indulgent cream sauce to take them over the top. Repeat with remaining mixture: 25 - 30 meatballs. TODAY Show 6 Months to a 6-Pack Challenge. Whisk until smooth and all flour is incorporated. I ended up adding black pepper and red pepper flakes to the gravy to add a hint of heat. Turn heat down to medium and flip over and cook 3 minutes. You can also find me at, Directions at thespicegarden.blogspot.com. Keywords: swedish meatballs, meatballs, swedish food, gravy recipe, Tag@pinchofyumon Instagram so we can admire your masterpiece! We loooooooove Swedish meatballs and now Im actually tempted to make some from scratch. Simmer until meatballs are heated through. Swedish Meatballs. Once fully cooked, those bitter flavors tend to dissipate, but it is a risk worth considering. Juicy, tender meatballs made with warm spices, simmered in a creamy gravy. Between the other two, the fresh bread made the juiciest, most tender meatballs. Also, I dont cook the meatballs all the way at this point in the recipe.). 3/4 lb. Step 1. Irma von Starkloff Rombauer. Am thinking of using 1/3 lean ground pork and 2/3 ground beef (half of it 80/20 and half a leaner grass fed beef). Cover. I start by making a roux, cooking flour and butter together until the raw flour smell is gone. The kids eat them as fast I put them on their plates. If you want to REALLY dig deep, back to be beginning of the history of these beautiful little bites, Swedish meatballs are actually based on a dish brought back from Turkey in the early 18th century by King Charles XII of Sweden. But they are SPECIAL. Beat on low speed until smooth. Add beef stock and wine. Add beef; mix lightly but thoroughly. Let the milk soak into the crumbs for a few minutes. In a separate bowl combine the tomato with water and mix well. Prepare the meatballs for cooking. In a medium sized bowl combine ground beef, ground pork, panko bread crumbs, parsley, allspice, nutmeg, onion, garlic powder, pepper, salt and eggs. Also, its still one of my familys favorite recipes. Dredge the meatballs in the flour. Is there even a bread / onion / garlic mixture? Frequently Asked Questions About This Recipe, Soft Gingerbread Cookies with Maple Glaze, Roasted Carrots with Honey and Garlic Yogurt Sauce, https://cookpad.com/us/recipes/348955-swedish-cucumber-salad. Is it on the back of a fresh bag of cranberries? Your email address will not be published. (!) Add the minced onions and saute until soft. Whisk in 1 tbsp plain flour and tsp allspice, then cook until smelling toasty. salt tsp. Well, what this does is break down the meat further to create the most delectable texture that practically melts in your mouth. This also helps make the gravy a little darker. 3 ounces (80g) fresh white bread, crusts removed, bread cut into 1/2-inch pieces (about 1 3/4 unpacked cups), 5 tablespoons (75g) unsalted butter, divided, 1 medium onion, minced or grated, divided (see notes), 1 pound 4 ounces (560g) ground beef chuck (about 20% fat), 12 ounces (340g) ground pork (about 25% fat), 4 teaspoons (18g) kosher salt, plus more for seasoning, 1/4 teaspoon ground white pepper, plus more for seasoning, 2 cups (480ml)homemade chicken stockor store-bought low-sodium chicken broth, Buttered boiled Yukon Gold potatoes and lingonberry jam, for serving (optional). Your email address will not be published. ground pork *Note: In some instances, moisture will settle around the meatballs, simply discard the fragments when transferring from baking sheet into the simmer sauce. All are made by browning in butter on top of the stove. Remove onto plate, then brown the remaining batch. Heat 2 tsp olive oil in a heavy-based frying pan (with a lid) over a medium-high heat, then brown 12 meatballs all over. But interestingly, once the meatballs were cooked, the differences were very subtle. Onions - the finer you dice your onions, the more uniform and pretty your meatballs will be. Swedish meatballs have some pretty standard ingredients: diced onions, ground pork, ground beef, eggs, panko, salt, and pepper, and nutmeg. Pour the sauce over the meatballs in the baking dish. Add more butter for frying the meatballs as needed. In a large bowl, combine ground beef, ground pork, bread crumbs, egg yolks, allspice, nutmeg and onion. Gather the ingredients. Cook, uncovered, until meatballs are cooked through, 15-20 minutes longer, stirring occasionally. In small, heavy skillet over medium-high heat, melt 1 tablespoon butter. I originally published this four years ago. Basically, the fat is emulsified into the meat, giving it the sausage like texture and making them taste sublime. Remove from heat and set aside. Stir often. The gravy thickens and the meatballs get more tender as you let them rest in the sauce. Form the mixture into 1-inch meatballs. ), I Tried IKEA's New Plant-Based Meat and It Cooks Up Just Like Ground Beef, Vegan Impossible Swedish "Meatballs" Recipe, Swedish Meatballs With Ground Beef and Pork Recipe. Swedish meatballs are traditionally served with a side of lingonberry jam which I didn't have on hand, and I have found I like cranberry sauce even better. Thank you, Irma Rombauer! I tried all three of those browning methods. You could try a little bit more bread next time to see if that helps. Form the mixture into 1 inch balls. Depending on the size rolled, you'll get about 24-36 meatballs. Easy cranberry sauce: 1 bag of cranberries; 1 c. sugar; 1 cup water (or c. water and c. orange juice). Approx 2. The reason for the wet texture is that the cream-soaked bread makes for a very tender meatball once its cooked. Swedish meatballs are typically baked in the oven, but can also be fried. Also white pepper, white sugar and just ground pork, but my family is a Danish Swedish hybrid so we probably do things a little differently . How to Make the Panade (Wet Bread Mixture), Planet Meatball: 20 Meatball Varieties Around the World, Salisbury Steak With Mushroom Brown Gravy Recipe, Sauced, Souped, and Sandwiched: 16 Meatball Recipes We Love, Crisp-Skinned Spatchcocked (Butterflied) Roast Turkey With Gravy Recipe, French Onion Soup (Soupe l'Oignon Gratine) Recipe, Veal Saltimbocca (Roman Sauted Veal Cutlets With Prosciutto and Sage) Recipe, Filipino Food 101: Recipes to Get You Started. Add to that the sweet smell of onions caramelizing, and everyones mouth starts watering. . In the recipe above, nothing goes into the food processor, not even the bread / onion / garlic mixture you mention. This is normal, simply scrape off excess right before you add them to the pot with simmering sauce.). Subscribe to receive new posts via email. The acidity of the pickled cucumbers works so well with it all too. Remove from oven and set aside. This post contains referral links for products we love. * Mine are usually done right at 4 hours 30 minutes. The 10 minute mixing makes a big difference! When all meatballs are cooked, reduce heat to low and add flour to skillet. My grandma is coming to visit this weekend and Id love to make this for her! Great question! I let them simmer in there for several minutes, to heat the meatballs through and ensure that any that didn't fully cook during the frying step are done before serving. A 50-50 blend is good, but my favorite was a 2:1 ratio of beef to pork: It made meatballs that were springy and flavorful, but still tender and juicy. Set aside. Lower heat to medium and cook for 10 minutes. . 2 Tbsp. @ Jessica: Overmixing flour-based doughs will result in a tough, dense product, because it encourages gluten development. 4 Tbsp. A 2:1 ratio of beef to pork creates meatballs that are rich and flavorful, with just the right balance of springiness and tenderness. In a medium bowl, combine bread with milk, tossing to coat. I just made this dish for dinner tonight, and it was fabulous. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. To get that more emulsified, springy texture, I tried mixing the meat and seasonings both in afood processorand in a stand mixerlong enough to beat the crap out of the mixture, but not so long that friction would heat it up and melt the fat, which can lead to texture problems down the line. Make the gravy: Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Tex Mex is my favorite, and I comfort myself with classic Southern foods. Glad to hear you enjoyed the meatballs! Add the minced meat to the bowl in chunks and stir. In my tests, I minced and grated the onion, and both methods work. Everything was going well until I was browning the meatballs. Add salt and pepper. This was so good. In my research, I found one Swedish meatball recipe, from a 1965 cookbook, that advised minimal hand mixing, but most of the more current recipes I found use more aggressive mixing methods. Totally need to make these this week! (think about lightly toasted caraway seed that has best ground fresh, it is a spice from that region to). Prepare sauce: Add brandy to skillet with onions and ignite with a long match or igniter (or if you're using a gas stove, just . But one word of warning with the grated onion: The grater breaks open a lot more of the cells in the onion, releasing more onion juice. Step 1: Make a slurry. I just blogged about this dish. Add some butter, then place meatballs in the skillet in a single layer. Do not overmix. Garnish with chopped parsley. 4. butter Cranberry sauce or Lignonberry jam (I buy mine at IKEA). Thank you again. Swedish meatballs are a savory meatball recipe made with ground beef or pork. Swedish meatballs may or may not be something that you want to make on a random Tuesday night because theyre gonna take a little time to make. I figured there was no reason this had to be an either/or situation, so I decided to get the deep, sweet flavorandthe crunch by cooking half the onion and using the other half raw. Living in Minnesota you would think you had the ability to pick up some local Norwegian or Swedish cookbooks to compare the correct ingredients. This site does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Frozen or let the meatballs thaw first? Remove from heat and stir in sour cream (optional). For Swedish meatballs, I found oven-roasting to be a poor choice. Please wait a few seconds and try again. Love all around. Brown the meatballs in batches, place on a baking pan and finish in a 375 degree oven for 10 minutes. (I also divide the butter in half and use 2 Tbsp. Thank you for your post. Most recipes I see are not the real deal and you nailed it. 1 cup water (I sometimes use milk instead) (And I did not know you were from New York!). Blend the ground meat mixture with the onion, egg, milk/breadcrumb mixture and the spices. Thank you!! In a large skillet, heat olive oil and 1 Tablespoon butter over medium high heat. Combine the ground meats, dried bread crumbs, onion, garlic, parsley, eggs, all spice, nutmeg, salt and white pepper in a large bowl. Continue cooking, stirring constantly, until the sauce thickens, for 1 minute. Find the previous version here. Note: If you want prettier meatballs, use the two spoons. For gravy, stir flour into drippings; cook over medium-high heat until light brown (do not burn). To finish the dish, I add the fried meatballs to the gravy and toss them to coat. Gently combine with your hands. Heat the oil in a 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Well, I am Swedish and here in Sweden we never use those spices, and most certainly not together! Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and line a baking sheet with baking cups. My husband Bjork and I live in Minnesota. Use a meat thermometer to check internal temperature. Leave them to cool until they are easy to handle, usually taking about 7-10 minutes. Form 18-22 meatballs. It's just enough to make the sauce taste rich and meaty, but not so much that you'll feel like you ordered Swedish meatballs and ended up with Chinese takeout. Cracked the code for me: ) the finer you dice your onions the... Then, I am Swedish and here in Sweden we never use those,. You miss the point of being Swedish by not adding the spices are easy to handle, usually taking 7-10... ( I buy Mine at IKEA ) dish, I am Swedish and in. A medium-heat saute pan with butter those bitter flavors tend to dissipate, but it is spice! A boil pepper flakes to the pot with simmering sauce. ) the tomato with water and well. Or pork made last night was the best ever gravy: melt the butter in a 375 degree oven 10! Swedish cookbooks to compare the correct ingredients local Norwegian or Swedish cookbooks to compare the correct ingredients the pan finish. So exhausted at the same time 15-20 minutes longer, stirring vigorously to break any! / garlic mixture you mention gravy and toss them to coat many readers me. A few minutes wetter than most meatball recipes youve probably made, and thats how it should be 4th July... Hint of heat together very nicely and the gravy thickens and the spices of my familys recipes., but can also find me at, directions at thespicegarden.blogspot.com little butter/olive oil without.... Until the raw flour smell is gone to compare the correct ingredients you want prettier,... And delicious add flour to skillet. ), 1 inch thick milk to soak bread. Gravy! ) hacks, and everyones mouth starts watering texture that practically melts in your mouth gravy made! Mix well a skillet ; brown the meatballs get crispy instead of rice! Pork in a small bowl, combine bread with milk, produced denser, drier.. In small, heavy skillet over medium heat coming to visit this weekend and Id love make. Savory meatball recipe made with warm spices, and family friendly recipe that is and. Until soft and translucent then place meatballs in the recipe above, nothing goes into the and... Baking sheet with baking cups right before you add them to coat simmered in 375. Delectable texture that practically melts in your mouth is made by combining flour and in..., too celery and saute over low heat until light brown ( do not burn ) finely chopped onion tbsp... The ground meat mixture with the addition of Worcestershire sauce was wonderful too. Adding the spices to see if that helps to break up any lumps is easy can! The sauce thickens, for 1 minute: Swedish meatballs butter c. finely chopped onion 3.. Crispy instead of steamy fat is emulsified into the crumbs for a very tender meatball once its.. Mixed up various batches until the raw flour smell is gone whisk in flour and nutmeg in little. To find out, I add the onions to the gravy thickens and gravy. Excess right before you add them to cool until they are easy to handle, usually taking 7-10. Cream ( optional ) does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment meatballs... A few minutes thing to a boil two Refreshing Cocktails for the Swedish meatballs: the... Yolks, allspice, then cook until smelling toasty about 1 inch thick milk to soak the bread onion! Simmered in a large, heavy-bottomed skillet over medium high heat into the food processor not... They go faster than we can wind our way through the entire store and find the exit in... Done and refrigerated beforehand butter, then brown the meatballs get crispy instead of!. Admire your masterpiece allspice, then brown the remaining batch fast and delicious butter for frying the meatballs batches! Cook the second batch yolks, allspice, then place meatballs in batches, place on a baking with! The meat, giving it the sausage like texture and making them taste sublime minced meat to the pan cook... Pick up some local Norwegian or Swedish cookbooks to compare the correct ingredients Swedish. And bring to a simmer, and thats how it should be: add a hint heat. A medium bowl, combine the tomato with water and mix well and love it inside about... Meatballs butter c. finely chopped onion 3 tbsp easy to handle, usually about... This question of springiness led to my other meat decision: how to mix it and pretty meatballs. Simmer, and celery and saute over low heat until light brown ( do not burn.. Tender as you let them rest in the meantime dice the onion, and stir poor choice when soaked. With classic Southern foods or pork sauce was wonderful ( think about lightly toasted caraway seed that best! Coming to visit this weekend and Id love to make is the gravy thickens and the were! To that the sweet smell of onions caramelizing, and it was fabulous packet contents, powder... Baking the Teriyaki meatballs recipe Try them over a bed of steamy rice or with toothpicks an. Pork are the most time consuming part is rolling the meatballs in batches, place on baking. A large skillet, heat olive oil and 1 tablespoon butter now on, your email address not! Blend the ground meat mixture with the addition of Worcestershire sauce was wonderful use those spices, simmered a! Some folks throw veal in there, too over low heat until light brown ( do burn. In chunks and stir, you & # x27 ; ll get about meatballs... Juicy, tender meatballs made with ground beef or pork vinegar and soy sauce and bring to a.! A baking sheet with baking cups of July sauce if you want prettier meatballs though..., tender meatballs remove onto plate, then place meatballs in the garlic powder and Worcestershire sauce..! Large bowl, combine bread with milk, tossing to coat ground meat mixture with the onion, carrot and! Differences were very subtle for Swedish meatballs, my family devoured this meal the food processor, even! Chopped onion 3 tbsp own Scandinavian heritage that makes me love them so much onto plate, then meatballs... The milk soak into the food processor, not even the bread / onion / garlic mixture nicely and meatballs... Nutmeg and onion second batch chopped onion 3 tbsp soak into the pan and cook for minutes! Tiny Utah kitchen optional ) this meal fat is emulsified into the crumbs for a few minutes was., simply scrape off excess right before you add them to coat half and use tbsp... Cook over medium-high heat to dissipate, but it is a risk worth.! Go wrong with Swedish meatballs, use the two spoons at this point in baking... To 400 degrees Fahrenheit and line a baking sheet with baking cups: combine the tomato with water mix... Completely indulgent cream sauce to take them over a bed of steamy best ever made last was... Folks throw veal in there, too the meantime dice the onion, and.... A very tender meatball once its cooked two spoons 3: Pour the sauce thickens for! Made the juiciest, most tender meatballs made with ground beef and pork are the most delectable that. To that the cream-soaked bread makes for a tongue-in-cheek July 4th celebration not! Pink inside, about 10 minutes nutmeg in a 375 degree oven 10... Bread made the juiciest, most tender meatballs made with ground beef and pork are the most meats... You really have to make is the gravy! ) a 12-inch nonstick over!, 1 inch thick milk to soak the bread 1 lb meat -.... * Mine are usually done right at 4 hours 30 minutes theyre and. The pan and cook until smelling toasty, Tag @ pinchofyumon Instagram so can. Reduce heat to medium and cook the meatballs get more tender as you let them in... Finish the dish, I mixed up various batches Swedish by not adding spices... To break up any lumps onions, the fresh bread made the,., I am Swedish and here in Sweden we never use those spices, simmered in little! Ability to pick up some local Norwegian or Swedish cookbooks to compare the ingredients. Cook, whisking, until raw flour smell is gone, about 12 minutes from New York! ) in... And everyones mouth starts watering this point in the sauce. ) I ended up black... Sausage like texture and making them taste sublime texture and making them taste sublime finely chopped 3! Heritage that makes me love them so much and can even be and. The two spoons Swedish food, gravy recipe, Tag @ pinchofyumon so. Soaked in milk, tossing to coat skillet in a single layer right at 4 30... Still one of my familys favorite recipes cooked through, 15-20 minutes,! Just made this dish for dinner tonight, and stir in sour cream ( optional ) a butter., cream of mushroom soup, gravy recipe, Tag @ pinchofyumon so... Post contains referral links for products we love with simmering sauce. ) Bauer! The beef broth, cream of mushroom soup, gravy packet contents, garlic powder and Worcestershire was... Your email address will not be published once its cooked a risk worth considering big! Heat and stir in the baking, youve got the rolling, youve got baking... And line a baking pan and cook 3 minutes in chunks and stir in the baking dish rich. Store and find the exit nothing goes into the crumbs for a tongue-in-cheek 4th!