Midnight [turkey] Meatballs

One of my favorite things about being at my parents home is that their fridge always has something yummy to eat. My mother has set a good example for me– she prepares lots of food when she has time so there are plenty of left overs in the fridge.

A favorite of mine is her mini baked meatballs. They are great for a meal with spaghetti / quinoa / spaghetti squash and tomato sauce or they are a great snack to eat with a bit of tomato sauce.

The best part about them is they reheat really well– just pop them in the toaster for a few minutes and they will still be delicious and cripsy.

So what’s a gal to do late at night on a Saturday when she’s got no plans? Well of course she goes to Whole Foods to buy ground turkey and make a batch of meatballs for the week!

Baked Turkey Meatballs

ingredients:

• 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
• 2 eggs
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 3 tablespoons ketchup or tomato paste
• 4 tablespoons panko crumbs, parmesan cheese or bread crumbs ( I just used bread crumbs)
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 2 tablespoons parsley (or if you’re like me and don’t have any use a pinch of rosemary, thyme and whatever other spice smells good…)
• 16 oz. lean ground turkey

preparation:

• preheat ove to 375
• in a bowl mix all the ingredients minus the turkey
• add the turkey and mix it all up. Don’t be afraid to use your hands to really mix it all together!
• with damp hands roll the mixture into small meatballs and place on a baking sheet
• bake for 20-25 minutes
• refrigerate the leftovers and reheat in the toaster for a tasty snack

Slowly I am becoming less and less terrified of the kitchen! I’ve always been a bit creeped out by the thought of touching raw meat so touching the ground turkey sans freakout is a big deal

Now I’m pretty tempted to call my mama and tell her about my successful batch of meatballs…. but it’s almost 2AM in New York…