Sweet & Sour Meatballs

When I was growing up, my mom would let us choose our birthday meal, not just our birthday cake. I ALWAYS chose her amazing Sweet & Sour Meatballs. She served these flavorful meatballs with peas and fettucini alfredo. Are you drooling yet?

I tend to make several batches of meatballs at once and freeze them for future Spaghetti & Meatballs or Sweet & Sour Meatballs dinners. My meatball recipe is slightly modified from Mom's since I take advantage of Egg Beaters to lower the cholesterol of the recipe (and garlic powder rather than garlic salt).

Meatballs

1 lb lean ground beef

1/3 c seasoned Italian breadcrumbs

1/4 cup Egg Beaters

1 tsp garlic powder

1/2 tsp black pepper

splash of milk

Blend the meat, but don't overmix or the meatballs will taste tough. Form 1" meatballs and place on a baking dish. Bake at 500 degrees until browned, approximately 10 minutes. Use or freeze immediately.

Sweet & Sour Meatballs

1 batch of meatballs

1 jar La Choy Sweet & Sour Sauce

1 14oz can pineapple chunks

Warm the ingredients on the stovetop or in a Crock Pot. Tastes wonderful with mashed potatoes (or fetuccini alfredo). Serves 3-4.

Smashing Super Bowl Chili

Ok... Apologies in advance for not having a picture! It's a testament to how quickly this meal was eaten.

One of the really challenging culinary days for me is Super Bowl Sunday. All those nachos, wings, pizza, etc are delicious, but clearly not Weight Watcher friendly! Therefore, I carefully planned our menu this Super Bowl Sunday to include modified family favorites that have a healthier spin. That and watching portion sizes should make the weekly weigh-in as palatable as the food!

The chili was so good, my sweet husband asked me to make chili with this recipe from now on. It had a rich, satifying meatiness and just enough spicyness to make you feel like a super hero....

Super Bowl Chili
1 15.5oz can Brooks Hot Chili Beans
1 15.5oz can Brooks Mild Chili Beans
2 15.5oz cans diced tomatoes (with juice)
1 bell pepper, diced
1lb lean ground beef, browned
1 tsp chili powder
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
1/2 c small pasta shells, cooked al dente

Brown the beef, then "sweat" the peppers until tender. Add everythig to the Crock Pot except the pasta. Cook on Low for 8 hours. Add the pasta right before serving. Enjoy with corn bread!

Happy Husband Baked Ziti

Lately, I've experimented with too many chicken recipes. Consequently, my husband went on a well-justified chicken strike. So, it's time to roll up my sleeves and tap my imagination for delicious meals that feature beef and pork.

This is a delicious, hearty meal that I hestitate to post as a recipe because now people will know how simple it is! Despite spending only a few minutes in the kitchen preparing it, you're spouse will get the happy glow of Italian-restaurant-satisfaction after taking his first bite. This is also a great meal for company: the extra spices in the sauce disguise its jar-origins and, since this is a casserole, you can have a spotless kitchen when guests arrive.

Happy Husband Baked Ziti

1 lb lean ground beef, browned

1 jar spaghetti sauce

1 Tbsp Parsley

1/2 tsp Oregano

1/2 tsp basil

1/4 tsp red pepper flakes

1/2 c shredded mozzarella cheese

6 oz high fiber ziti, cooked al dente

Combine all ingredients except the cheese in a casserole dish. Top with cheese and bake for 45 minutes at 350 degrees. Serves 4 at 6 points each.

Momma's Meatloaf

When my husband and I were dating, he didn't think he liked meatloaf. This recipe converted him... We still laugh about the family meatloaf that was responsible for his early belief that he didn't like meatloaf. It was made with fatty ground beef and extra lard. When we were driving to the family event, he told me I needed to stir the impending meatloaf around on my plate, but not eat any. He was smiling, so I laughed, thinking he was being funny. Then, I ate every morsel of the meal. That was the last time I was a member of the Clean Plate Club. My stomach, no my entire abdomen, hurt for hours. The only time I suffered from more abdominal pain was during labor...

A word to the wise: when my husband says not to eat something, don't eat it (even if he was smiling).

Momma's Meatloaf

1 lb lean ground beef

1/2 bell pepper, diced (red is the sweetest, but green is fine)

1 clove garlic, minced

1/3 c Italian bread crumbs

1/3 c catsup

1/4 c egg substitute

1 Tbsp milk

1/2 tsp oregano

1/2 tsp thyme

1/4 tsp black pepper

Mix all the ingredients when they are room temperature and bake for one hour at 350 degree.

Baked Spaghetti

This casserole is another one from my "prenatal collection", but it should be a part of every cook's repertoire. Imagine the tomato-y, cheesy goodness of spaghetti without spending any time in the kitchen the night you serve it. In fact, this could be paired with a nice salad and French bread for romantic dinner after spending the day together. Your significant other with marvel at your resourcefulness and your miraculous dinner preparation skills...

Baked Spaghetti

1 lb lean ground beef

1 lb box of high fiber spaghetti, cooked

1 bell pepper (I prefer 1/2 each of red and green)

1 jar spaghetti sauce

1/2 tsp black pepper

1 tsp dried oregano

4 oz shredded mozzarella cheese

Brown beef, then add diced peppers and cook until they are tender, but not browned. Stir in a jar of spaghetti sauce and season with pepper and oregano. Toss the sauce and cooked noodles together, then transfer to a pan already prepared with nonstick cooking spray. Sprinkle the top with shredded mozzarella cheese. Either bake at 350 degrees for one hour or freeze at this point for later enjoyment.

Memere's Goulash

This recipe is based on one of my favorite recipes from growing up. My mom calls this Hamburg Skillet Casserole, but, in our house, we call it Memere's Goulash. My husband called it that one night and the name stuck. (Memere is the French-Canadian way to say Grandmother.) Let this be a lesson - give something a catchy name or someone else will pick one for you.

Several years ago, we were stuck in a New York toll lane behind another silver Honda Civic. The other car had a bumper sticker, cross hanging from the rear view mirror, and a nun in full habit driving it. So, ever since, my own little silver Honda Civic has been called "The Nun Car". I say it again, give something a catchy name or someone else will pick one for you.

Memere's Goulash

1 lb lean ground beef

2 Tbsp parsley

4 beef bouillon cubes

1/2 tsp garlic powder

1/2 tsp black pepper

3 c water

2 c carrots, sliced

2 c noodles

3 c frozen green beans or peas

Brown meat, then mix in the parsley, garlic powder, pepper, bouillon cubes, water, and carrots. Simmer the mixture for 15 minutes, then add noodles and green beans or peas. Cook for an additional 15 minutes. Serves 3.