2018 is here!!! Ok… I know it’s been here for almost 2 weeks, but I’m a little behind on my blogging game. Not to worry, I am back with an amazing Turkey and Spinach meatballs recipe. The holidays were a whirlwind of activity, and I am so glad to be able to return to normal schedules and the re-introduction of vegetables into our lives! You know that you are completely failing at your healthy eating goals when your kids start acting like chocolate is a vegetable. LOL. We were totally overdue for a reset in our eating habits after Christmas break.
I love that January is a time to readjust and course correct. A time to reflect on the things that we want to leave behind in the last year, and the exciting things we want to accomplish in the New Year. I truly look forward to this time, and one of our favorite family traditions. Each year we participate in 21 days of Prayer and Fasting through our Church. Growing up, I always thought of Fasting as a time of suffering and struggle. Kind of a last ditch effort when everything was going wrong. I have learned over the years that it is a time just to celebrate God and what He has done in my life. A time to give Him the first of my year, even as I plan out the rest of the year. A time to seek direction, wisdom and a closer walk with Him in the coming year. It is so easy for me to get caught up in the holidays and the daily hustle and as a result, neglect my spiritual walk. These 21 days help me to refocus my attention back to my Daddy.
We get the kids involved and pick some things we fast together as a family (TV and sweets) as well as individual things. This year the kids decided to go all in with us, and we are doing the Whole30 plan as our fast. If you haven’t heard of it before, it is basically a 30-day clean eating plan where you eliminate sugar of any kind, alcohol, grains, legumes, peanuts, dairy, or food additives (such as MSG, carrageenan, sulfites). You basically eat meat, eggs, vegetables, sweet, red or white potatoes, tree nuts, seeds and healthy fats. I’ve done it once before and loved how great I felt, so I’m pretty pumped that the hubby and kiddos are along for the ride with me. I am looking for new and exciting recipes that are Whole30 compliant, and these meatballs fit that bill!
These turkey meatballs are so good!!!! I was a little skeptical that meatballs could taste half decent without breadcrumbs, but I honestly did not miss them at all. I’m finding that simple substitutions can be made to work with our new eating plan. For instance, no pasta was an easy swap, by using spaghetti squash. In place of the breadcrumbs, I used almond flour, but coconut flour would work just as well. If you aren’t trying to go gluten-free, breadcrumbs will be just fine. These meatballs are packed with flavor and veggies, and we will probably continue to make them looooooong after the whole30 is done. They are delicious, healthy, and gluten-free. This recipe makes a big batch, so we have leftovers for tonight! I’m going to pause right here and do a praise dance, because…no cooking dinner=happy times.
These meatballs would be great as an appetizer, cooked into a tomato sauce over pasta or spaghetti squash, or in meatball sandwiches. We will be chopping our leftovers into a salad tonight, so it is a very versatile recipe. They also freeze well, for future meals! I truly wish you and yours a happy 2018. Look out for more blog stuff coming through this year. I’m pretty excited about this journey. Drop me a line and let me know what’s on your 2018 bucket/goals list. Maybe meatballs?? Here is another variation of meatballs with pasta sauce for a beef recipe with parmesan cheese.
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 onion, diced
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- 5 cloves garlic, minced
- 10 oz frozen spinach, thawed and drained
- 2.5 lb ground turkey (or beef)
- 2 teaspoons dried basil
- 2 teaspoons dried parsley
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper
- 2 teaspoons salt
- ½ teaspoons black pepper
- 2 eggs
- ½ cup almond flour
- In a pan with some oil over medium heat, cook the onions and peppers until they start to soften (about 5 minutes). Add garlic and cook for a minute. Add the drained spinach and cook for a few minutes to evaporate any liquid.
- Allow the mixture to cool slightly.
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Place parchment paper on 2 baking sheets.
- In a large bowl, mix the veggie mixture with the turkey, basil, parsley, oregano, pepper, salt, eggs and almond flour, until combined. Do not overmix, it makes the meatballs tough.
- Shape the mixture into your desired size. I use ¼ cup measure to make mine large meatballs. Line them on the parchment with space in between them.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes, until the inside is cooked through (160 degrees F).
Weekly Reflection.
This verse pretty much represents my prayer for this year. That I will not start off really strong, then lose my zeal along the way in 2018.
Romans 12:1-2 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
[…] Fam and I are on Day 16 of the whole 30 journey, and going strong.( I talked about this a bit in my last post.) The kids chose to go along with the plan, and I honestly was bracing myself for a lot of whining […]