Friendship Meatballs

My very dear friend, KM introduced me to a version of these delectable meatballs a few years back after a particularly rough day.  We shared this meal with her family, and I witnessed what will quite possibly go down in history as the most hilarious dinner conversation to date.  Between her little sister crying hysterically fretting over the orange peppers in the sauce and her mother bantering about how her eldest daughter never cooks and of course, the amazing meatballs...it was just the medicine I needed at the time.

I have attempted to recreate this meal a few times.  I am overwhelmed with joy that last night, I succeeded.  I have officially decided to dub them Friendship Meatballs.

When I'm buying the ingredients at the grocery store,

when I'm delightedly mixing them together with my bare hands,

when I'm boiling the bowtie pasta because any other shape just isn't the same,

when I'm adding orange pepper to vodka sauce which plays on the sweetness of the meatballs [& friends]

I am reminded of the blessings of friendship.

And it warms my heart.

I only wish I had written down measurements... I will do my best to guess if you please, pretty please, do yourself a favor and cook these up to share with your dearest friends.  You won't be disappointed!

Friendship Meatballs
3 string cheese sticks
2 eggs
1/4 cup (ish) Catalina dressing
1 tbsp. sugar
1 lb. ground turkey
1 tsp. crushed garlic
1 1/2 - 2 cups breadcrumbs (maybe?)
oil for pan
box of bowtie pasta
jar of vodka sauce
1 orange pepper

Set out ground turkey so it has time to warm up (15 minutes??).  Your fingers will thank you.

Cut up the cheese sticks into about 6 chunks per stick.  Put in freezer.

Beat eggs and mix in Catalina dressing, sugar and garlic.  Set aside.

Mix (with your hands!) ground turkey, gradually adding breadcrumbs.  I kept mixing until it felt "right," like it is saturated with the breadcrumbs.  Helpful, I know.

Get really dirty by mixing in the Catalina/egg mixture.  Squishy!

Wash hands, retrieve cheese chunks from freezer.  Form meatballs around the cheese.  I shot for about 1 1/2in - 2in diameter.  Big meatballs.  Arrange on plate;  I made 13 meatballs, but you can switch that up depending on size.  Put meatballs in fridge.

Cut up orange pepper and add it to vodka sauce; start warming on stove.  Also, start boiling pot of water.  {I trust you know how to boil pasta...}

Put oil in the largest pan you have and warm it up on medium-low heat.  Add meatballs, cover and rotate every 4ish minutes, until you've browned 4-5 "sides."

Pasta, meatballs, sauce, serve, enjoy, call your best friend & tell her you love her!  Then, pack up leftovers to share with your favorite coworker at lunch the following day. :-)

PS - next time, I'll remember to take a picture!

My New Best Friend

As someone who doesn’t get home at night until 7 o’clock, I absolutely love walking in the door to the smell of a home-cooked meal.  The last thing on my mind at the end of a long day is what to make for dinner.

That is why I have befriended the crock pot.

I bring you, Chicken and Sausage Cacciatore

1 lb. Italian sausage, cut in 1’’-thick chunks
1 lb. skinless, boneless chicken breasts, cut into 1’’ pieces
1 large green bell pepper, cut to preferred size
1 cup sliced fresh mushrooms
1 medium onion, sliced in rings
2 cups tomato sauce
Italian seasonings

Layer cut vegetables in crockpot.

Cover with about 1 cup of tomato sauce.

Top with meat.

[I had originally taken a picture of this...but it was rather fowl--ha--so I'll spare you the raw details]

Cover with remaining tomato sauce and sprinkle with your favorite Italian seasonings.  I also added some black pepper for good measure.  And there's even a little pink peeking out for your enjoyment.

Cover and cook on Low for 6-8 hours.  Remove cover during last 30 minutes of cooking, stir, and leave cover off to allow sauce to thicken.

Meanwhile, cook up your favorite pasta—B and I will be having whole wheat rotini.

Serve and enjoy!

...can't wait to see what will be waiting for me when I get home tonight!!