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!)

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR STOPPING BY!  I AM TRULY HAPPY THAT YOU ARE HERE!

I am SO BLOWN AWAY at how successful this blog is becoming...and who would have thought that I'd be a blogger? hmmmmm :)

Welcome to my blog and welcome back if you are a returning visitor!  I'd LOVE if you would stay awhile and click on 'follow' to become a follower!

 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

Turkey Tacos

 
Turkey Tacos!

(My take on a healthy version without sacrificing the taste)

Welcome to my blog and welcome back if you are a returning visitor!  I'd LOVE if you would stay awhile and click on 'follow' to become a follower!

So most of us all know how to make tacos.  This is just my take on them.  I add a few specific products to add flavor and cut fat and calories.  My family loves them and I was STARVING when I made them tonight!

Oh...and MY tacos are SELF SERVE!!! :)

Note:  Stay tuned....for my new 'Weight Loss Diary' page!
(I've lost 52 pounds with these recipes each night and still losing ...)

 
Nutritional Info Per Serving:  Varies according to your toppings but about 300 calories
Preparation Time: About 15 minutes     
Cook Time:  About 10 minutes
Number of Servings: 6
                                                                                     

6 - Reduced Fat Tortillas (we use Jalapeno Cilantro flavored)
3/4 - cup shredded low fat cheese
1 - medium sized tomato, diced
1/2 - medium sized onion, diced
1/4 - cup cilantro, chopped
1 - 1.25 pounds of 99% Fat Free Ground Turkey
1 - can of Fat Free Refried beans 
2 - tablespoons of Jalapeno, canned
1/4 - cup Jalapeno juice, from can
1/4 - taco seasoning
3/4 - cup Fat Free OR Reduced Fat Sour Cream

Cook your turkey over medium high heat until cooked through.

Add your taco seasoning and the water it requires.  Stir and reduce heat to low.  Simmer until ready to serve.

We use a MILD seasoning since we heat up the beans with some SPICE!

 Heat up your can of refried beans in a small pot on medium heat.  Add jalapeno, jalapeno juice and cilantro to the beans and stir.  Reduce heat to low until ready to serve.


TIP:  If you open one side of the can...and make a small hole on the other side...your beans will slide right out!

Start chopping your lettuce, onion and tomato.  Grate your cheese and set up your taco bar.

You can TOTALLY tell that not many members of my family like tomatoes and onions!

Heat up your tortillas if you like them like that.  Best done with a moist paper towel over the top of them on a plate in the microwave for about 15 seconds.

THESE JALAPENO CILANTRO FLAVORED TORTILLAS ARE AWESOME!  LOW FAT AND CALORIE TOO!

Compile your preference of a PERFECT taco and you are done!  Eat and enjoy!  I know I did!

THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN for visiting my blog.  I have some awesome things planned for the next few day and can't wait to show you!  I would LOOOOVE to hear your comments and all about how YOUR cooking adventures went.

Goodnight and see you tomorrow!  Be sure to let me know how YOURS turned out!