Mama's Meatballs

Paul and I both have the amazing fortune of having wonderful mothers who just happen to be great chefs too. We are always delighted with their home-cooked meals and they are an equally incredible source for great recipes and cooking tips. We were lucky to have my mom in town recently, and therefore gifted with not only her lovely presence, but some delicious cooking as well. We asked her to share her meatball recipe as it is such a great staple comfort food, and we all know comfort = mom.  The recipe for these meatballs is authentic and has been passed down from Italian family friends. They are delicious in any pasta dish and also make a perfect bite-sized appetizer. We used all organic ingredients for this recipe.

Serves 4

Ingredients
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 1 medium sized onion
- 5 cloves of garlic
- Handful of parsley, minced
- 1 egg
- 1/2 cup of grated parmesan
- 1/2 of breadcrumbs
- 2 ounces of milk
- Salt & pepper

1. Finely dice the onions and garlic and sautee in olive oil until translucent and set aside.

2. Combine with the rest of the ingredients in a mixing bowl. The consistency   should allow you to ball the meat without it falling apart.

3. Form golf ball-sized  rounds and place in a frying pan with olive oil on medium heat to cook. The outsides should be a lightly browned. Slice one of the rounds open to make sure they are cooked through. 

Happy Tasting,
Paul/a

Fresh Start Green Smoothie

Happy Monday Everyone! A fresh start is synomous with the New Year and we are jumping on the bandwagon. The post-Holiday season is upon us and everyone is getting into “detox” mode after an indulgent end to 2012.  We are all for getting the correct amount of nutrients and vitamins our bodies need: the easier the process, the better. Green smoothies are a great way to do this, and when made at home you get full control over the ingredients that go into these tasty health boosters. Below is an example of a smoothie that is high in nutrition, low on sugar, and that actually tastes great. Try our combination below and tweak the ingredients to your palate’s desire.

Approximately 2 servings:

1 large orange, peeled
1 cup kale (or spinach)
1 small avocado
1 cup apple, chopped
1 cup coconut water, chilled (add more if needed)
1/2 cup ice
4 tbsp lemon juice
dash cayenne (optional)

Combine these ingredients in your blender for a delicious and nutritious way to start your day.

Happy tasting,

 Paul/a

New year, Healthy New Start

Happy New Year Everyone!  We have made a few new years resoultions, the first being to post more on Tablespoon. The second, to make a bigger effort to eat pure, organic and nurtitious foods. That being said, the first step to getting off to a healthy new year begins with the first meal of the day: breakfast. While this meal should be priority #1, so many of us have trouble fitting this uber important meal into our compact schedules. We have come up with a super quick, easy and super delicious way to get loads of nutrients before you step into the office.

We decided to combine a mixture of fresh fruit, pre-made waffles (to save on time), peanut butter, raw honey and ground flax seed to give you the nutritious punch you need to start your day. We love the brand Nature's Path because unlike so many of its competitors, it is a third generation family owned and operated company. Nature's Path products are organic, fair-trade certified, and devoid of GMOs. If you are looking for tasty and nutrient dense pre-packaged cereals, waffles, and health bars, we highly suggest trying this brand.

Our breakfast waffles pack a nutritious punch with potassium, Omega 3s, Managanese, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Folate, Thiamin, Niacin, Magnesium, and tons of fiber, antioxidants and healthy protein. 

Using honey instead  of maple syrup will give these waffles a hint of sweet without drowning them in sugar. Add some peanut butter for a little extra sticking power and sprinkle some flax on top for your daily dose of heart healthy Omega 3s. The blueberries pack memory boosting antioxidants and the banana provides those vital energy-packed minerals and vitamins. Bonus! Use local, raw honey to help fight allergies. 

Happy tasting,
Paul/a