The Gaffer stiffens his meatballs with oatmeal; Old Noakes uses bread crumbs. The Proudfoots usually cook theirs in a tomato sauce while the Boffins prefer apple cider vinegar and honey. The Sackvilles serve large, meaty meatballs; those made by the Bagginses tend to be modest but spicy. Most work minced onions into their mixtures, while the Cottons are known to prefer to use finely sliced shallots.
“I do think that everyone will find at least one tureen of meatballs to enjoy,” Bilbo commented as he and Frodo imagined how many examples were likely to be offered at the Yule feast.