Meatballs with Marinara Bow-tie Pasta

Meatballs with Marinara Bow-tie Pasta!

(HEALTHIFIED!  I know that's not a word...but it's MY WORD!)

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 So this is MY healthy version of a meatball...FILLED with taste but FULL of nutrients and HEALTHY ingredients.  I saw a recipe on a cooking show...then started twisting it and changing it and even sent out a little different version of it to friends and family a couple months ago.  But this, I think WE GOT IT RIGHT! ;)

I let my 5 year old son pick out the pasta...he picked BOW-TIE!

Nutritional Info Per Serving:  About 450 calories with pasta and the sauce
Preparation Time: About 15 minutes
Servings: About 6  (2-3 meatballs per person)
                                                                                
1/2 - pound of 99% Fat Free Extra Lean Foster Farms Ground Turkey
1/2 - pound of 96/4% Fat Free Extra Lean Hamburger
1/2 - small onion, grated (I use a cheese grater so the kids don't taste chunks!)
3 - garlic cloves, grated (I use a small zester to make it almost like a mush that mixes flavor into the meat)
1 - large egg
1/4 - cup Italian dried bread crumbs (keep it in the freezer!  stays fresh longer!)
2 - tablespoons fresh basil, chopped (you could use 1 tablespoon of dried if you don't have fresh)
2 - tablespoons baby spinach, finely chopped
1/4 - cup Parmesan cheese, shredded
1 1/2 - teaspoons sea salt
1/2 - teaspoon ground pepper, freshly ground if you can.....
12 - oz of Bow-Tie Pasta (we use whole wheat)
26.5 - oz can of Hunt's Organic Traditional Pasta Sauce
1 - 2 - tablespoons of Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Start by heating up your  Extra Virgin Olive Oil in your large skillet over medium heat.  (I only use a small amount at the bottom of the pan - this oil is GOOD for you but ONLY in moderation.  

Play it by ear...but use as little as you think you can.)

 Next, start your water boiling for your pasta.

Now comes the FUN part.  Add the first ELEVEN ingredients to a large mixing bowl and USE YOUR HANDS to mix it all up!  Make sure you mix it really really good!

(TIP:  Take off any rings...it will get into EVERYTHING if you don't)

Now....ADD your PASTA to the water and cook Al Diente!  Should be about 10 minutes but read your package. :)

Then when it is all mixed through...kick up the heat on your skillet to medium high heat.  Start forming small meatballs and putting them in your hot oil.  (Bigger than a cookie ball, but smaller than a snow ball...LOL)  I don't know how to gage this!  But there isn't any exact science...you have all seen a MEATBALL before, right??? :)

Then brown them on all sides.  Make sure they get brown and cooked on the outside turning them pretty consistently.  It will cook for about 5-8 minutes or so. 

Your pasta should be just about done now too....toss it into the skillet with your meatballs and add your sauce.  Toss it altogether and WAAAAA LA!  Perfecto Italiano!!!  

 

 

 (My 5 year old son even ATE it with the green things in it because it was BOW-TIE's)

So THANK YOU once again.  WE hope you enjoy your dinner!

And I LOVE LOVE LOVE comments so be sure and leave us one!  See you tomorrow!

I linked up this recipe and wine review at....

Happy Go Lucky
House of Hepworths
A Glimpse Inside
Everyday Tastes
Paisly Passions