Spaghetti and Turkey Meatballs

Growing up, my mom never fixed spaghetti and meatballs for supper. So when I found this recipe, I was eager to give it a try. It was easy enough to make after a long day of work and without a working dishwasher. It tastes delish too!

You will need:

olive oil

1 yellow onion

3 garlic cloves

salt and pepper

28 oz. can Cento whole tomatoes

1/2 cup panko bread crumbs

zest of 1/2 lemon

1/4 cup chopped flat leaf parsley

1 Tbsp fresh thyme

1 tsp finely chopped rosemary

1 pound of ground turkey (dark meat)

1 egg

1 lb. spaghetti

basil

Heat about 2 tablespoons of oil oil in a large pan/dutch oil over medium heat

Chop the onion finely and add to the oil

Sweat the onions for 8ish minutes or until soft

Add minced garlic and generous amount of s&p

Saute for a few more minutes

Remove half the mixture and reserve for meatballs

Add tomatoes and the juice to the onion mixture.

Crush the tomatoes in the pan- I like to leave them chunky

Turn heat to low and simmer while you make the meatballs

Combine panko, lemon zest and herbs with onion mixture

Add the turkey and egg

Mush with your fingers

Heat a non-stick pan with olive oil

Form the meatballs into whatever size you like

Brown over medium/high heat

Turn as each side browns

Add to the tomato sauce mixture

Simmer meatballs in sauce while the spaghetti cooks

Cook spaghetti in boiling salted water

Drain and toss with olive oil

Top with saucy meatballs, basil and parm

Stuffed Shell Supper Club

Every week or so my friends gather for a very casual supper club. Baked stuffed shells and lemon basil peas was easy for this week's cook and a crowd pleaser. I have never heard a group of people rave over peas like my supper club friends.

GP's Lemony Basil Peas

Briefly steam a bag of frozen baby peas until just de-thawed. Immediately soak in an ice bath to stop the cooking. Drain well. Mix with olive oil, squeeze of lemon, torn basil and s/p. Serve cold.

Spinach and Cheese Stuffed Shells

Boil according to package:

12 oz. package of jumbo shells

Preheat oven to 375 degrees

Mix together:

15 oz. ricotta cheese

1/2 cup parmesan Cheese

1 egg

dash of nutmeg

1 garlic clove, pressed

salt and pep

10 oz package of frozen spinach, thaw and squeeze until really dry

Pour tomato sauce (just choose your favorite store bought) into a baking dish.

Stuff the cooked shells with filling

Sprinkle with parmesan

Cover with foil

Bake for 20 minutes or until heated through

Remove foil and bake for another 5 minutes

*note: this pic is of a batch I left in too long- a bit overcooked!

Pre-Thanksgiving Thank You Bread

Thanksgiving menu planning inspired to make a few loaves of my moms pumpkin bread. Only problem was that I was lazy and didn't feel like a visit to the grocery. This turned into an opportunity to tweak my moms recipe and use the can of sweet potato I already had instead of pumpkin and brown sugar for a missing 1/2 cup of granulated sugar. The result was a loaf worth gifting!

Pumpkin or Sweet Potato Bread

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Beat in an electric mixer:

4 eggs

Mix in:

1 cup oil (veggie or canola)

1 tsp vanilla

1 can pumpkin or sweet potato puree

Mix in a separate bowl:

3 cups sugar *

3 cups flour

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp nutmeg

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp ground cloves

1 tsp salt

Add sugar/flour mixture to pumpkin mixture

Mix well but don't over-mix

Grease and flour two loaf pans generously

Bake for 50 minutes

Cool then.....

Package in parchment, tie with bakers twine, gift to a friend!

* I only had 2-1/2 cups of granulated sugar and substituted the last 1/2 with light brown sugar. I worked great and I may even like it better.

Spicy Sausage Pizza

If you love pizza, don't be afraid to to make it at home. It can be healthier than restaurant style and it's fun. This recipe is a template- be creative and add whatever suits your fancy. Watch out because I will post several of my favorite homemade pizza combos in the future.

Justin's Spicy Sausage Pizza

You will need:

pizza dough (I prefer Publix)

spicy sausage

red bell pepper, sliced

onion, sliced

garlic, minced

mozzarella cheese, shredded

olive oil

kosher salt

Saute sausage, sliced onion, garlic and sliced pepper in a skillet

Cook sausage until just done and peppers/onion softened

Prepare dough according to package directions

Roll out dough to shape of you choice

Drizzle pan with olive oil

Assemble the pizza on the pan

Dab crust with olive oil and kosher salt

Sprinkle a little cheese

Layer the sausage/onion/pepper mixture

Top with more cheese

Bake according to dough (usually about 400 for 25 min)

Salmon Sandwich

Although it's November, this weekend has been sunny and warm- not exactly comfort food weather. My usually summery salmon sandwiches are just the right meal on a day that feels refreshing and healthy.

You will need:

salmon filets

brioche rolls

1 cup mayonnaise

1/2 cup sour cream

3/4 teaspoon white wine vinegar

12 basil leaves

3/4 cup dill, chopped

1 1/2 tablespoons scallion

kosher salt, pepper

3 teaspoons capers, drained

your favorite lettuce

For the salmon:

The salmon is awesome grilled on a cedar plank on a big green egg but if you lack both like me.....

Set the oven to high broil

Wash salmon filets

Sprinkle generously with salt and pepper

Place under the broiler

Cook 3 minutes on each side

For the sauce:

Place mayo, sour cream, vinegar, basil, dill,

scallions, salt and pepper in a Cuisinart.

Process until combined

Add capers and pulse 3 more times

Slather the brioche with dill sauce

Layer with salmon and lettuce