Very Tasty Turkey Meatballs

It's Monday and it's snowing again.
Really, it's the third Monday in a row. At least the kids made it to school. You should see the cute dog team and sled that picks them up!

Just kidding...

Since it's still so wintery, I am still very much into comfort food. But remember, it's Healthy Eating Month here at Mignarise, so the comfort food will be slimmed down.
There's nothing to warm your heart and tummy like spaghetti and meatballs.  I would eat whole wheat pasta, but the kids won't.  Barilla Plus makes a great compromise, because even though it's made with all kinds of healthy grains, fiber and protein, it tastes a lot like the regular old white pasta.
And please don't be horrified, but I often use sauce from a jar. Doctored up of course (did you honestly think I'd just serve it straight from the jar? Not that there's anything wrong with that).
Chop up, very small, half an onion, 2 carrots and some red bell pepper (or any other vegetable you like). If you dice the vegetables small enough even picky children won't notice them. Saute the vegetables, along with a clove or 2 of garlic, in a little olive oil. When it's soft, pour your jar of sauce over it. Tastes like you made it all by yourself. Which you did.
And when the meatballs are done, plop them into the sauce too, then simmer about 15 minutes before serving.

Very Tasty Turkey Meatballs

1 lb. ground turkey breast

1/4 cup panko or fresh bread crumbs (use the dried only as a last resort)

2 cloves garlic, finely chopped

1 egg + 1 egg white

2 Tbsp. chopped fresh parsley

2 Tbsp. chopped fresh basil

1 Tbsp. tomato paste


1 Tbsp. dried minced onion

1/4 cup grated Parmesan or Romano cheese

crushed red pepper, salt, and black pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 350. Line a baking tray with parchment paper.
Place all ingredients, except turkey, into a bowl and mix well, making sure eggs are well incorporated.
Add turkey and using your hands or a fork, combine with ingredients very well.
Form meatballs, about the size of golf balls, with wet hands. Place on parchment paper.
Bake for about 20 minutes. You can cut one open to make sure it's cooked through (it'll be completely white). Drop into spaghetti sauce, if desired.

 Buono appetito!

March Madness

To say that March is not my favorite month is polite. March is a tough month to get through in Maine. It's not the dead of winter, but it's no where close to being spring. There's still several feet of snow on the ground. One day there might be a bit of warm sun to melt a little. The next day there could be another 8". There's nothing to look forward to in the month of March, except for the end of it. No holidays, no vacations - nothing but a root canal on the calender. I wish I was kidding.

In the spirit of optimism, I have come up with some ideas for surviving (and even thriving) in March.

1. It's going to be Healthy Eating Month at Mignardise!
This isn't a punishment for the all the fun we've had with baked goods. It'll be interesting, enlightening and delicious. Look for new recipes and ideas throughout March.

2. A fitness goal!
The club where I work out is having an Ultra-Athlete Challenge. You have to acquire 250 miles in 31 days, walking, running, on the cross-trainer, rowing machine and bike. That's a lot of miles and I am certainly no ultra-athlete. But I like having a quantitative goal. I like knowing it's for a finite period of time (although I fear it might make March seem even longer). And I like the fact that it might help me shed some of those cookie and margarita pounds I acquired at the ranch.

3. Schedule events!
This is a good time to do all those things you've said you want to do. I want to see the National Acrobats of China when they come to town. I want to support local businesses during Maine Restaurant Week. I want to go snowshoeing and skiing at least once more. And I want to hear what you've got planned, so leave me a comment with some good ideas.

So here's the deal...I'll help you get through March if you help me. Together, we can!