Balls, Balls, Balls.

Perverts, this is a Meatballs 3 different ways recipe. A menage a tois of balls. (Ha sorry I can’t help myself). Anyway, baked or pan seared…you pick your favorite. Chicken, turkey, or pork…you pick your favorite meat (that’s what she said?). OK for real though, the base for the mixture of these meatballs is the same: simple and delicious. The rest, you pick. Swear you can do it, all by your damn delish self.

Fine chop a large Vidalia onion, throw that in the bowl and then throw in Italian breadcrumbs (About a cup) After that add red chili flakes based on your level of spice preference. Lastly, toss in parsley flakes (dried or fresh), salt, black pepper (to taste, I do a pinch each or 1 tsp.) and a tablespoon of minced garlic. (I did 2 tbsp. but I’m crazy for garlic, so ya disclaimer) Crack an egg into the mixture and add your choice of ground meat. Don’t over-work the meat and form balls with your hands. I try to wet my hands with olive oil when doing this so the meat slides right off. (Too many jokes, too easy, I’ll take the mature route just this once).

Editor’s Note: Make sure if frying or pan searing that your olive oil is hot enough, but not scorching because the inside will remain raw while the outside burns (medium heat, kids). For baking the oven should be at 350 degrees and the duration will be based on meatball size. (1 lb. of ground meat should yield 6-8 medium-sized meatballs at 15-20 minutes).

Happy Eating, XO.

Jazzed Up Rice

  • Chicken broth
  • Medium onion
  • 1 tbsp. of butter
  • 1 cup of rice
Boil with chicken broth instead of water. (Add flavor where you least expect it). Slice up half of a medium onion and let that float at the top of the rice & broth mixture (chill, you can use the other half for one of the salads or eggs the next morning, we aren’t wasting food). Add one tsp. of dried parsley flakes (not fresh because that would just wilt when boiling).
Once rice is cooked, fluff with fork and stir in one 1 tbsp. of butter. (feel free to leave out if you are counting calories, but if not you should see the richness & glow it adds to the rice when serving…divine!) Also if you are like me and are forever forgetting how to actually make rice, note the ratio is 2:1 (2 parts liquid for 1 part rice) That also means that 1 cup of cooked rice should yield 2 servings.
*Editor’s note, if you don’t like onions leave them out, or sub the onions for frozen corn…get creative & leave comments on how you changed this recipe up or jazzed up rice in your own way.
Happy Eating, XO.

Party in your mouth Salad

I didn’t just title this post “party in your mouth” so that you would click on the recipe. Although that is definitely an added bonus 🙂 I pretty much said exactly that when I first tried this salad at a restaurant. I usually don’t go home and emulate much of what I eat out, but this one was easy & so damn good, it had to be done!

  • 3 cups of Chopped watermelon chunks. (I would keep them fork size so you can get all the flavors in each bite.)
  • 1/2 cup of Crumbled feta cheese (I did a pinch of black pepper too but that’s because I don’t think salt & pepper should ever live without each other.)
  • 1/2 of a medium sized red onion. (Thinly sliced kids. If you don’t like onions, you can do cucumber rounds. Point is to get something fresh & crunchy!)
  • Then they added a pinch of dried parsley for color, you can do fresh but make sure its finely chopped & a drizzle of balsamic to top it off.

I cant stress how good this is! Going back to my theory on salads being scrumptious and “sultry”. This salad hits all your taste buds: salty (feta), sweet (watermelon), crunchy(onion or cucumber or both), and smooth (balsamic). Now that’s a party!

Happy eating, XO.

watermelon salad

Chickpea Salad

Not all salads have to be like eating grass. Some salads don’t even need to have any leafy greens. Go ahead, pick yourself up off the floor because I know you are shocked. This recipe isn’t even for the generic pasta salad (which I mean I still love). This is something different, yet yummy. Fancy, but easy.

  • 1 container of herbed feta cheese
  • 1 can of chick peas (Also known as garbanzo beans, drain the can liquid)
  • 1 medium size red onion (You could use another onion if you have one lying around, but I suggest the red one since those are the most palatable raw)
  • 1 tsp of crushed garlic
  • 1.5 tbsp of dried or fresh parsley (See I give you options and don’t always force you to use what I want)
  • Pinch of salt & pepper to taste (a pinch of red chili flakes will add that zing you may crave)

Chop the onion finely, mix the other ingredients, and serve cold.

Happy Eating, XO.