Meatball Recipe

Happy Monday Friends!!!!

I have had a great Monday so far..

Jaxie and I started off our morning with the wonderful ladies at MOPS. We had an awesome and very impressionable speaker who really stirred some things in me..God really sends the most awesome people right in your direction when you truly need them! I love that about him :) and tonight I start my very first Body Back session!!! It is an intense 8 week program that strengthens more than just your core!:) I am excited and will share more details on that later...

I wanted to share one of my most favorite and versatile recipes EVER! I make meatballs probably once a week and just change out the ingredients to make them different. I use ground turkey, chicken, or beef and mix and match veggies and cheeses to make them different and fun!

The other night I made ground chicken meatballs with sautéed apples and gouda cheese.

THEY WERE DELICIOUS...I will share that recipe later.

The basic meatball recipe I use is my own and it starts like this:

Ingredients

1 lb ground meat ( turkey, chicken, beef)

salt and pepper to taste

1 yellow onion chopped and minced

1 cup italian bread crumbs

1 egg

2 TBS worstechire sauce

METHOD:

I start by sautéing the onion in some olive oil. While the onion is cooking, add your meat to a bowl. Then to the meat add your egg, bread crumbs, spices, and worstechire. Once the onion is cooked go ahead and knead all the ingredients in with your hands. Form 2 inch balls and place on a sizzling cast iron skillet. Brown on both sides and then finish cooking in the oven.

400 for 10 minutes.

Now this is a basic meatball recipe that can be interchanged 237483038945 ways!! That is why I love these so much! Got a picky kid? Try and sneak in some shredded veggies into the meatballs. I love to add cheeses of different sorts as well. If I am doing an italian meatball I will add chopped parsley and mozzarella to the meatballs along with some italian seasonings. The sky is the limit! So get creative and make some meatballs :)

Favorite Kitchen Gadgets

Okay I’m not gonna lie.. 

I am a little excited about this post. For one, I am ALL about some really great kitchen gear!!! Anything to help get the job done in the kitchen in half the time is worth it to me! 

William Sonoma and Sur la table are amongst some of my favorite group of stores...I could spend endless hours just picking up and playing with all of their millions of kitchen gadgets!!! You know you could too!

I have compiled a list of some of my absolute favorites and also some that I am planning on using in the future. Everything will be linked below!!!!

1.  The Slow Cooker- 

I mean need I say anymore? Once that first cool front of the season hits and you are to busy watching football to concoct an hour long meal.. the crockpot is your best friend. There are so many wonderful and versatile recipes the slow cooker can make. From savory to sweet it really does it all. 

This is the All Clad with Aluminum Insert

and its also 50 % off right now!!!!!

2. The Cast Iron Skillet-

This might be the southern coming out in me BUT rarely do I ever cook on ANYTHING other than a cast iron skillet. Cast iron skillets get seasoned with each meal you cook. The oils from the food seep into the iron and then once reheated the oils bring a ton of flavor to your dish. From eggs to filet mignon to sautéing veggies.. the cast iron is our main pan in this kitchen.

Buy our exact skillet HERE

3. A Food Processor 

I honestly cannot say enough things about the food processor!!! We make sauces, salsas, baby food, home made popsicles, marinaras, hummus... you name it we make it!!! This is a life savor! Especially if you have a baby and plan on making baby food.. I actually have the Baby Bullet, however you don’t really even need one if you have a food processor on hand. They are so easy to clean and save a ton of time when it comes to chopping and prepping. 

Shop Food processor HERE

4. The Nespresso

Okay, so I understand that this isn’t really a “gadget” per se however it belongs in the kitchen so to me, its necessary! This is the world’s BEST coffee maker. In my opinion it ranks up right there with Starbucks. Okay maybe not quiittee starbucks but it knocks the kurig right on its you know what :) the coffee is creamy and delicious, all imported flavors ..so think rich full flavored roasts, and its small sleek and comes in a few different versions. Oh and its ONE button to push to get your coffee.  Mine is the Citiz version ( which comes with the frother) the other versions do not come with a frother they sell them separately. The frother is one of the best parts because it turns your regular coffee into a creamy latte’ at home in your OWN kitchen! Yes its a total win. 

Buy the Citiz version

HERE 

5. Wooden Spoon

This one is not as elaborate as the other items I have previously posted but I feel like a good wooden spoon is necessary to have in the kitchen.  Everyone needs a spoon that is durable to stir a thick and hearty sauce with, a spoon to scrape out the last bit of batter from the bowl, and a spoon to stir yummy ground meats simmering in lots of fragrant spices. I love a good spoon and own a wooden spoon in a few different sizes! This one is my favorite and it comes monogrammed or not monogrammed in the store.

Mine is obviously monogrammed :)

Shop Here

I hope you find this list a bit helpful as these are my favorite items in the kitchen :)!

Shepard’s Pie

Happy Monday Friends!!! 

We have a busy week ahead of us so I wanted to jump on the ball and make a dinner that could last for a lunch the next day for Jax and possibly a dinner for Brandon and me.. I will be gone two evenings this week so B will have the baby all to himself.. and lets be honest he is not about to try and get fancy in the kitchen!!! 

This Shepard’s Pie is only a few steps, reheats phenomenally, it is baby friendly, AND freezes great. ( I actually love this dinner for a new mama!) You can make this dinner in a traditional casserole dish, cast iron skillet, OR like me, make it in muffin tins for a perfectly portioned dinner :)

Here we go!

Ingredients:

1 LB Lean Ground Turkey ( or ground meat of choice)

1 bag frozen organic veggies ( peas, carrots, corn)

1 yellow onion chopped and diced

2 sweet potatoes - cooked, cooled, and mashed with butter ( set aside in a bowl)

1  1/2 cup shredded cheddar 

* optional 1 can cream of mushroom 

Procedure:

Start by browning your onion in some EVOO .. once cooked through add your ground turkey and season with salt and pepper to taste.

Next, add your frozen veggies and stir stir stir! Once cooked down a little add the *optional* Cream of mushroom ( this basically makes it a little thicker and stew like but if you opt not to its okay!

Add 1 cup of shredded cheddar and stir until the cheese is nice and melted.

Last, pour contents into your baking pan of choice ( muffin tin, casserole dish, cast iron skillet) and top with potatoes and remaining cheese. Bake at 350 for 15 minutes

Five on Friday!!!!

Happy Friday People!!! 

We have had a slow and easy Friday.. I took Jax to the children’s museum where he pretty much played himself to exhaustion...( always a mom win) then came home for lunch and nap!!! 

this weekend we plan to take it pretty easy as well ( don’t you just love weekends like that) I am all for a jam packed FUN weekend but sometimes the laid back and easiness of a do nothing weekend sounds spectacular. We plan to paint the kitchen to hopefully attract a buyer ( fingers crossed!), celebrate a friends birthday ..and head to church on Sunday followed by football and Mama’s Sunday Dinner.

Here are my Friday Favorites This Week!!!

1. All the new Fall Transition pieces 

Now if the weather would just cooperate with us!!!

I hit up the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale this year and stocked up in Fall clothes for both Jaxie and me...I found some REALLY cute items that I cannot wait to wear this season!!

How cute are both of these??!!!! I have this outfit and cannot wait to wear it to a dinner out!!! the shirt is true to size and very light so even a ( HOT) Texas fall could handle it :)

Shirt Here

Booties Here

The Shirt comes in a few different colors and the booties also come in black and dark grey!

and for Jaxie 

High Tops Here

Jeans Here

Hooded Jacket Here

Henley and Terry Here

I love all of these pieces for baby boy because they are easy ( on and off), transitional, light weight for playing.. and super cute!!! I plan to do a complete post on baby boys/toddler fall wardrobe

2. Finding I am by Lysa Terkeurst

I just ordered THIS new bible study book to do during my morning quiet time. I hear amazing things and feel it is so important to have just those few quiet minutes of alone time each morning ...or afternoon whenever you find a minute!!

3.

I just joined my local MOPS group.. moms if you are reading this and hesitant of joining I encourage you to find out about your local group!!! I am a new mom obviously so all these new mom things are new to me! Mothers of Preschoolers is an faith based organization for pregnant women all the way through women of preschool age to come to gather and pray, craft, learn, and share together. Events are thrown and playdates are held.. it is a wonderful group and definitely one of my favorites this week!

Here we are on our first day of MOPS 2017!

4.  My Eggplant Parmesean

This is a must make for a yummy weekend dinner :) 

5.   Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin from B & B

I tried to hold out.. I really did! However...once I set out my pumpkin decor.. it was all over. I set fire to this sweet little thing and my home turned into fall :)

Happy Friday!

A little Kitchen Talk and an Eggplant Parmesean

Everybody has their own special way of winding down.. for some its exercise, crafting, painting.. but for me it’s cooking. 

Sipping a buttery Chardonnay and chopping a pungent onion is my FAVORITE way to relax. I love to feed people.. it’s my happy place. 

I know I listed my Fall bucket list and traditions below.. and while they are SO much fun to look forward to my most special and much awaited tradition is Sunday Dinner.

It all started when I got married...I had a TON of fancy glass wear and china and we really never used it except for Christmas Eve and Easter... I started to get creative in the kitchen and Every Sunday I would pull out my china and in the midst of Sunday Football..I would make us a nice little dinner to look forward to. After I got a little confident with the food I was making I started inviting over friends and family to join in on my special little Sunday tradition.. I learned to LOVE the company, the prepping, the wine drinking.. the conversation. It was the best. It still is. 

Now come Fall...every Sunday I make a really big To-Do dinner..

I don’t let it overwhelm me..and if one sunday I am to tired I simply skip it. I may not use my fancy china every Sunday anymore because #babies but I set the table, use my good silverware, and my stemmed wine glasses. 

Whether it is a crock pot meal, casserole, or five step classic dinner...

Sunday Dinner is Served :) 

I love to cook for the season.. and Fall brings out such a different array of produce and fruits.. appetizers like figs and goat cheese come into play and eggplants, fall squashes, and heavy rich sauces take the place of the lighter fare we grilled all summer. 

I thought up this egg plant dinner and y’all it is quite possibly one of the best recipes in my little back pocket ...but I wanted to share

Eggplant Parmesean with a Meatball Sauce

Shopping List:

• 1 large eggplant (about 1 ½ pounds), sliced into ½-inch thick rounds (12 to 14 slices)
• 2 large eggs
• ⅔ cup plain panko bread crumbs
• 2 teaspoons dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• cooking oil spray 
• 2 cups homemade tomato sauce ( favorite brand)
• 8 ounces fresh mozzarella cheese, sliced thinly into as many slices as your eggplant
• 1 cup fresh basil, finely chopped

For the meatballs:  

• 1 lb ground beef
• Burratta Cheese ( ask your cheese monger for some)
• 1 cup Bread Crumbs ( italian herb style)
• Worstechire sauce 
• Mozzarella and parm cheese ( shredded)
• one yellow onion chopped
• One Jar of your favorite Tomato Sauce. My absolute favorite is William Sonoma Eggplant, garlic herb sauce.. 

Procedure:

Eggplant:

1. Line 2 baking sheets with a double layer of paper towels and spread the eggplant slices among the sheets evenly. Liberally salt the eggplant slices, using about a teaspoon total of salt, and let them sit at room temperature for 45 minutes to an hour. Using fresh paper towels, wipe the tops of the eggplant to remove excess salt and firmly press to release any remaining liquid. Dry on both sides and transfer to a plate. Wipe the baking sheets and line them with parchment paper or aluminum foil and spray well with cooking oil. 
2. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. In a medium bowl, beat the eggs. In another medium shallow bowl, combine the panko, oregano, basil, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. 
3. Dip one slice of eggplant into the egg, coating both sides, and then press ONE side into the bread crumbs. Transfer to the prepared baking sheet. Repeat the process with all remaining slices. 
4. Spray the tops of the eggplant slices well with cooking oil and bake until the eggplant is soft and the crust is crispy, about 15 minutes. Remove the pans from the oven and set aside.

Meatballs:

While your eggplant is cooking in the oven you can get started on your meatballs...

1. in a large bowl combine ground beef, 1 cup bread crumbs, a liberal amount of S & P,  a few glugs of worstechire sauce and the shredded parm/mozzarella mixture. Roll into medium sized balls.

2.  Over medium high heat preferably in a cast iron skillet ( any skillet will do) heat up your onion with a glug or two of EVOO. once onions are giving off a yummy smell ..sear your meatballs on each side ( about 4 minutes each) to lock in flavor. Pour a generous amount of your sauce over the meatballs and stick them in the oven with the eggplant. Cook for up to 20 minutes.

3. Set eggplant aside and top with the meatball sauce and add your burratta cheese to top everything off.

4 Garnish with basil and serve

I wish I had a camera so I could take pretty pictures of my food.. but I don’t.. haha so this is a real life pic right before I devoured this dinner!!!

My Sunday Crew..

Fall Bucket List

My favorite season has arrived!!!!!

Almost...

We all know fall doesn’t truly start until September 22 however in my book fall starts the MOMENT a pumpkin spice latte comes out at Starbucks.. and that my friends, is September 1 :)

I promise myself I wouldn’t decorate for fall until October 1 since I always get way to excited and pull out the pumpkins during the 100 degree weather.. but can we just be honest here? When you look at a pumpkin inside your home and smell the smell of your new pumpkin spice candle that you got 50 percent off at Bath and Body.. you just FEEL cooler.. and more fall-ish. Am I right?? 

Yes I am! 

So in lieu of the upcoming fall season I decided to write my bucket list like I do every year and add some of my favorite pastime fall pictures!!! Fall with a baby is SO SO SO much fun! Mostly because I am a kid at heart and get into all of the fun festive excitement going on. So here we go!

Fall 2017 Bucket List

Visit the Pumpkin Patch!!!!

Drink a PSL from Starbucks with girlfriends 

Play with leaves 

Carve a Pumpkin

Trick or Treat!!!!!

Celebrate our 4 year anniversary in the wine country!!!

WurstFest 

Bake my Pumpkin Muffins and share with friends

Bake some more :)

Cook “ Sunday dinner” for a different couple each Sunday and watch football

Ranch Trips and Bonfires

Zoo trip on a cool morning with friends!

Read new fall books to Jax

Fall Festival

Lots of home made apple sauce

Painting and “washing” Pumpkins with water - activity for Jax

Homemade Play-doh and dye it fall colors ( also add a pinch of cinnamon!)

GET READY TO MOVE!!!!!!

I think that will do it for Fall!!!!

A few random pictures from past falls

Perhaps my FAVORITE fall ever... our little pumpkin 2016

Our first fall being married. Here we are at the Ranch

2013

I live for PSL during fall..

On my way to teach with my favorite latte ever.

We celebrate our anniversary in the fall!

We also did engagement pictures in the fall..

2012

Pumpkin Patch!

Right before I got pregnant with Jax.. also in the fall :)

Engagement pictures Fall 2012 at the lakehouse

Wine Country Fall 2016

William & Chris

Mango Curry Chicken... and a few extra photos

It has been a hot minute since I have even wrote a post.. I guess most of it is due to the hurricane, busying myself with my family, and of course #momlife. Sometimes when I get a spare minute I would rather sit on the couch and do nothing then type a post .. real talk here :) I actually just finished  one of my favorite books ( for the third time I might add) and like always, it resonated with me and sparked my love for cooking right back up! 

If you haven’t heard of Shauna Niequest then I highly suggest you go and grab a copy of 

Bread and Wine

and start reading immediately!!! If you are a foodie, like myself, you will find this book highly intriguing and useful since she adds some yummy recipes at the end of each chapter. She talks a lot about her faith, family, and love for the “table”. I find myself so similar to her in this aspect because there is nothing more satisfying to me, than having cooked a HUGE meal for my friends or family...and sitting ‘round the dining table..just talking, eating, drinking. That is the good stuff and that is a lot of what she writes about.

So anyways on to this recipe! 

I made Shauna’s Mango Curry Chicken

and y’all... It did NOT disappoint. I wanted to share because I am in LOVE! 

It is not a dish I would find myself typically making because ahem #ginger and #curry?? 

I am more of a Tex Mex gal myself but this was so great that everyone I made it for returned for seconds!!!

Mango Curry Chicken

* Taken from Bread and Wine 

Ingredients

• ¼ cup all-purpose flour (or coconut flour to make it paleo)
• 2 tbsp curry powder
• 1 tsp kosher salt
• ¼ tsp cayenne pepper
• 2-4 tbsp coconut oil
• 1-1.5 lbs chicken breasts, diced
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 red onion, chopped
• 1 tbsp fresh ginger, minced
• 1 red bell pepper, chopped
• 4 cups chicken broth
• ¼ cups raisins
• 2 roma tomatoes, diced
• 1 mango, pitted and diced
• 1 tbsp fresh lime juice (approx ½ a lime)
• 3 tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped
• 3 tbsp fresh basil, chopped
• 2 cups dry rice (white or brown) prepared according to package directions

Instructions

1. Mix together flour, curry powder, salt and pepper. Cut chicken into small pieces, and toss with mixture until each piece is well coated.
2. Heat 2-3 tbsp coconut oil over medium heat until a drop of water fizzles (adding meat to oil that's not hot enough causes the meat to be greasy!)
3. Cook chicken pieces just until brown and crispy (only a few minutes, it's ok if it's not fully cooked!) Set aside.
4. If pan seems dry, add a little more coconut oil and let it heat back up. Combine onion and red pepper in pan and cook until onion is softened (about 4-5 min). Add ginger and garlic and cook for another 2 minutes, watching carefully to make sure the garlic doesn't burn.
5. Add chicken back to the pan and lower heat.
6. Add 4 cups chicken broth. Simmer until the broth reduces by about ¼. This takes some time...
7. Add raisins, tomatoes, and mango until they are heated through.
8. Remove from heat, and stir in lime juice, cilantro and basil.
9. Serve over rice (or cauliflower rice to make it pale!

A few pics of my loves!

We have been doing a lot of park time and this baby LOVES the swing

Headed to the DoSeum! 

We completed our August Project Handprint

Mama got some fall color in her hair

Splash pad fun!

Pearl Brewery

Love them so much!!!! They are my reason for documenting and blogging.. I love looking back and seeing how much life has changed!!!!