WOW can you believe it has been over a week now? Eight days in guys, I am so excited. I hope everyone is having as much fun as I am! I love cooking every night because I feel like I am not just cooking for my family, but I am cooking for all of you. So it is a blast. Last night was no different.


I have to admit, I have made these before, so I knew they were going to be good before I even hit the chopping board to prep. This is one of those recipes that caught me off guard. Simple, tasty, and it got my daughter to WANT me to add spinach to a meal! Now days it is not as hard to do, but when I first made this recipe about 2 years ago that was an amazing thing trust me.


When I say this recipe is easy I am not joking. It is such a nice feeling to make something that doesn't take a million ingredients and an hour to cook and have it taste really good. I wouldn't give this recipe five stars but a solid four.


You will be proud of me. I actually stuck to a recipe this time! yes, I can actually do it from time to time, I promise. Possibly the fact that I was busy creating a pasta side dish was what kept me in line. It let my creative juices flow with that.  Actually I was scrambling because I forgot to pick up something to make for a side. So I roasted some garlic with anchovy and red chili flakes in olive oil and made some pasta. Topped it with shredded parm and VIOLA a full meal! There was nothing left after I packed Kevin's lunch for the next day. It was the perfect amount for 4 people if they eat 3 meatballs each.


I would suggest you give this one a try.

Florentine Meatballs

Ingredients

• 1 box frozen spinach, defrosted in the microwave
• 1 1/3 pound (1 package) ground turkey breast
• 1 medium onion, finely chopped, divided
• 3 cloves garlic, chopped
• 1 large egg
• 1 3/4 cups milk, divided
• 3/4 cup bread crumbs, 3 handfuls
• 1/2 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano, 2 palm fulls
• Coarse salt and black pepper
• Extra-virgin olive oil, for drizzling
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 cup chicken stock
• 1 (10-ounce) sack shredded provolone or blend of Italian cheeses, available on dairy aisle
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg, eyeball it
• 1/4 cup parsley leaves, chopped

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

Wring defrosted spinach dry in a clean kitchen towel. Place turkey in a bowl and make a well in the middle of it. Add the spinach, all but 3 tablespoons of the onion, all of the garlic, 1 large egg, about 1/4 cup milk, bread crumbs, grated Parmesan, salt and pepper. Mix well. Form into 12 large balls and drizzle with extra-virgin olive oil. Arrange on a nonstick cookie sheet and roast 20 minutes, or until cooked through.

While balls are in the oven, heat a small sauce pot over medium heat. Add a drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil and 2 tablespoons butter. Melt butter, add remaining finely chopped onion and cook 2 minutes then whisk in flour. Cook flour 1 minute, then whisk in 1 1/2 cups milk and 1 cup stock. Bring liquid up to a boil then stir in shredded provolone or blended Italian cheeses. Season the sauce with salt, pepper and nutmeg, turn heat to lowest setting.

Place 3 balls on dinner plates and top with sauce, garnish with parsley.

Florentine Meatballs