Baked Meatballs

Meatballs are a dish that I grew up with, my mom used to make those once a week and we never had left overs. Back then my mom used to fry them, now we bake them, much more healthier.

Ingredients:

1 kg of chicken ground meat (or turkey)

2 cups of bread crumbs ( I used Italian)

1 small onion finely chopped

2 cloves garlic minced

1 tbsp of dry herbs (I used italian herbs)

1 extra large ( or 2 small) egg lightly beaten

1 medium potato peeled and finely shredded

1 tsp of smoked paprika

1/4 cup chicken broth

Salt and pepper to taste.

Place all the ingredients except the chicken broth and the beaten egg, in a large bowl and mix well. Add the chicken broth and egg and mix well. With moist hands form heaped tbsp of mixture into balls, and place them on a baking sheet fitted with a greased cooling rack ( that's the one I found works best).

Place in a preheated oven of 400˚F for 30 to 35 minutes ( or depending on your oven). The meatballs are done when the colour is a nice golden brown and no longer pink inside.

When the meatballs are cooked thru, you can served them with a side dish, mashed potatoes is my boys favorite side dish next to meatballs or you can take it a step further which I usually do and the boys just love it.

In an oven proof dish pour about 1 cup of pizza sauce or your favorite pasta sauce. What you need is to make sure that the bottom of the dish is generously covered in sauce. Place the meatballs in the sauce. I have three boys so I usually make about 13-14.

Top with a little more sauce spooned on each meatball and with shredded cheese. I used muenster cheese but mozzarella works just as well.

Place in the oven (which should be nice and hot same 400˚F) for 7 to 10 minutes or until the cheese is melted and bubbly. Serve with your favorite side dish.

Enjoy!

Chocolate Banana Bread

Banana bread is something that I make on weekly bases. I buy organic bananas and unfortunately those don't last for to long.  Banana bread is the answer to my to ripe to eat bananas. This recipe comes from a very acclaimed canadian chef Jean Paré. It can be find in her book "Most Loved Festive Baking".

Ingredients:

1/2 cup of unsalted butter ( room temperature)

2/3 cup of granulated sugar

2 large eggs

1 cup of mashed banana (3 medium)

1 tsp of vanilla extract

2 cups all purpose flour

1/2 semi-sweet chocolate chips

1/2 cup chopped walnuts ( optional)

2 tbsp of cocoa (sifted)

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

In a large mixing bowl cream butter and sugar.

Add the eggs one by one, beating well after each addition and scraping the sides of the bowl as needed it. Add banana and vanilla.

 

Beat well.

Sift together the flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt.

Add the dry ingredients to the banana mixture. Stir until just moistened.

Add the chocolate chips and  chopped walnuts.

Stir well. Spread the batter evenly in a greased 9x5x3 inch loaf pan.

Bake in a preheated oven of 350˚F for 1 hour, or until the wooden pick inserted in the middle comes out clean. Let stand in pan for 10 minutes before removing to cooling rack.

Enjoy!

More banana recipes

Chocolate banana cupcakes.

Classic banana sour-cream bread.

Banana walnut brownies.

Vegetarian Chili

I have been so busy lately, no time for blogging. My boys were sick one after another, then myself, and now we started again.... The worst winter I can remember when it comes to the health chapter.

Anyway, this is one of my "comfort dishes". I make it without meat but if you like meat ground turkey or beef would work great in it.

Ingredients:

2 tbsp olive oil

2 onions chopped

Optional 1 package of veggie ground meat (or turkey or beef) about 300 g.

1 medium carrot peeled and chopped

1 yellow pepper seeded and chopped

1 can of crushed tomatoes ( italian or chili)

1 can of kidney beans ( or chickpeas) rinsed and drain

1 cup of frozen corn kennels

1 cup of vegetable broth

1 can of tomato condense soup

3 tbsp of chili powder

1/2  tsp sea salt

1/2 tsp coriander

1/8 tsp cinnamon

1/8 tsp ground cloves

pinch cayenne pepper

1/2 cup fresh parsley chopped

Heat the oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Sauté the onions until soft. If using meat or veggie ground meat now is the time to add it. Continue to cook over medium heat for a few minutes stirring continually.

If you are not using meat then add the yellow pepper and  carrot and cook for a few more minutes.

Add the kidney beans and crushed tomatoes.

Add the rest of the ingredients except parsley and simmer for 50 to 60 minutes.

Garnish with parsley.

Serve with a green salad and lots of good bread.

Enjoy!

Strawberry-Banana Smoothie

Happy new year! Everyone sorry I haven't been blogging in a while I'm pretty busy with school and martial arts. Today is a new smoothie that will make taste buds go crazy for more. This smoothie is healthy and goes great with your new years resolution of staying healthy.

It's fast to make it only takes 10 minutes from start to finish.

Ingredients

1 cup of your favorite strawberry juice

1 cup of loose pack frozen strawberries

1 medium banana peeled and cut up

1 cup of low fat yogurt

Fresh strawberries to garnish

Step1:

 In a blender combine Strawberry juice,Frozen Strawberries,1 medium banana and low fat yogurt.

Cover and blend until smooth.

To serve pour in two glasses. If you like you can garnish with fresh strawberries.

Serve with more fresh fruits and a croissant for a great breakfast.

Made and post it by Cass Sandru (a.k.a The smoothie master)

Stay Healthy!