Let’s discuss The Bachelor. This is my first time watching it because of the connection with our blogging community – Katie was one of the contestants! I got hooked after the first few episodes and am now a fan of the show. Never though I would be, but it’s been fun to watch. I can’t decide which woman I’m rooting for, but I think Sean would be the best match for AshLee….I think. She seems to be more his age and maturity.
A friend pointed out that Sean’s sister, Shay, has a blog, which I started following only to discover that she also has a food blog – with wonderful recipes! Her Roasted Florentine Meatballs recipe caught my attention and inspired the recipe below.
Based on the ingredients I had on hand, I turned them into sun-dried tomato meatballs. This recipe was SO easy and can be modified in so many different ways. Who knew meatballs were so simple to make?
The sun-dried tomato flavors come from a sun-dried tomato panko I picked up at our Whole Foods a while back. You can most definitely just use plain panko though.
And I added even more punch with some tomatoes in olive oil
The recipe involves throwing everything in a bowl, forming the mixture into meatballs and baking for 25 minutes. Nothin’ to it.
We used local Wolf Creek Farm grass-fed beef, which was so delicious. But you could also use turkey or ground chicken as well.
Assembled:
After the roast:
We served them over Mona Lisa Pasta whole wheat linguine and some Cabbage Hill Farm pesto, which came frozen so it was fresh as the summertime. I got all the ingredients from Relay Foods, a local food hub and a grocery delivery service in Cville. We did a trade of a blog post of some of my recipes in exchange for some groceries : )
The more I have fresh pasta the more I fall in love with its chewy, doughier texture over dried pasta’s more watery, rubbery texture.
Finally, I wilted fresh arugula into the pasta as it drained to add more green to the dish and topped it all off with parmesan cheese.
Sun-Dried Tomato Meatballs
Ingredients (18 meatballs)
- 1 pound ground beef (or turkey)
- 10 ounces frozen spinach, thawed and drained of all liquid
- 1/3 cup sun-dried tomatoes in oil, chopped
- 1 cup panko (bonus if it’s sun-dried tomato flavor!)
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 eggs, beat
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
Instructions
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Preheat oven to 425*
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Mix ingredients well together in a bowl.
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Form into balls about the size of golf balls (about 18 meatballs)
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Put meatballs on baking sheet lined with foil and sprayed with cooking spray.
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Bake for 25 minutes or until meatballs begin to brown.
The best part of this simple meal – we had another serving of meatballs for leftovers and they tasted just as great the next night over salads. (And I’m sure could be frozen as well!)
I am on a meatball kick lately! Last night I made them for an Oscar party. Mixed mine with oats and spices before baking them in a homemade BBQ sauce. So good!
I don’t eat meat, but I do sometimes miss the texture of meatballs. Have you ever tried making them from lentils, or another vegetarian protein source?
Not yet…I have done lentils in muffin tin cups that were great
Mama Pea has a pretty great meatless meatball recipe in her first cookbook. I don’t read her blog, but there are some great vegetarian meals in that book! Check it out 🙂
Wow, those meatballs look amazing! I have a hard time getting the boyfriend to eat spinach but I bet all chopped up in a meatball I could get him to eat them. Plus the sundired tomatoes would add all kinds of delicious flavor! Usually a brown my meatballs in a frying pan but I think just popping them in the oven would be a lot quicker. Great idea!
Yummmmmyyyy!!!!! But with lots of cayenne hot sauce on top= perfect!
These look delicious! I love the sun-dried tomato addition. I’m sure it adds a great punch of flavor.
I don’t even eat meat but they look and sound amazing in terms of the flavour combination!
Yum! I love the idea of baking the meatballs instead of frying them. It sounds so flavourful! 🙂
What a delicious twist!! ……I’m quite excited that I have everything I would need to make this! Mmmmm! I’m experiencing a snow day and this seems like the perfect food to make today!
hehe, so glad you’re hooked on the bachelor. it’s such a silly show, but it’s hard to stop watching. excited for the last 2 episodes!!
I am definitely making these soon!
This looks delicious! Definitely bookmarking this for quick weeknight meal 🙂
I should comment on those fantastic-looking meatballs, but all of this Bachelor talk has be distracted! I definitely think that AshLee would be the best fit for Sean.. But who knows?
I also linked to Shay’s sister’s blog in a post last week, I love that blogs are just so expansive, it seems like everyone has one now!
I’m not a meat eater, but this looks delicious! Definitely something I’d make for my family.
These look so yummy!
http://therealfoodrunner.blogspot.com
Holy delicious – I’m dying over these. Cannot wait to make them!
I’ll have to try the meatballs. I’ve been hooked on the Bachelor for a while, there aren’t too many seasons I haven’t watched. Usually I read the spoilers about 2/3 through the season; I’m not big fan of the suspense of the final episode and rose ceremony. Sean sure is a cutie (not all the bachelors are so great).
Oh yum! I’m loving all of that green in the recipe. I’m so ready for spring it’s not even funny. This would have been perfect to eat while being snowed in yesterday.
I checked out Shay’s blog last week- can’t wait to make her meatloaf!
This looks so amazing! Definitely this will be on our table this week. Thank you for sharing!
Those meatballs look like they have so serious flavor! I’m actually not a fan of plain ol’ boring meatballs with marinara. 🙂
These look delicious! I’m going to have to check out Shay’s blog. I got sucked into the Bachelor this season too because Katie was on it and now I can’t stop watching!
I think most reality tv is utterly fake and culture-degrading. I’m looking forward to watching Burning Love with Ken Marino–a bachelor spoof that looks hilarious. Anyway, those meatballs look tasty and easy!
I dont even eat meat, and I think these look delicious!!
Those meatballs sound SO good. I haven’t had any in far too long! I bet these would be great frozen for future application too.
These look awesome! Can’t wait to give them a try! I had no idea Sean’s sister has a food blog….thanks for sharing!
That’s neat that one of the contestants has a food blog! I didn’t know that.
I love using ground turkey in meatloaf’s, meatballs, etc. but never thought about sun dried tomato, what a great combo!
NO no no…not AshLee. No. She cries WAY too much. She be craycray!
Looks delicious! I love making meatballs. That’s one of the first foods I learned to make really well. You are right–they are a snap to prepare. I will have to try Shay’s recipe and test it on my spaghetti-loving family.
Man these were good, we gotta make again!
Those meatballs look delicious! I always forget about how good meatballs are, and they are worth the effort.
I agree that AshLee is the best match for Sean… I guess we will soon find out who he picks!
OH I HATE that show! I think it makes these women look so desperate. They all make out with him and goodness knows what else to try to win the prize. A MAN. Big Whoop. It ranks right up there with beauty pagents.
I couldn’t agree more!! (ick!)
These look sooooooo good!!!!!!
Delish! Those look a bit like my turkey and kale meatballs 🙂
For a kick of flavor, I always add 1/4th ground lamb to any recipe that calls for ground beef. It adds SO much flavor but it’s less game-y then if you used all lamb. Just a tip!!
I am hooked on this season too and don’t normally like shows like this. Actual text I sent to my husband today “fair warning: the bachelor is on tonight”. He isn’t a fan, lol.
Interesting looking recipe- I’m confused about the bowl of green and yellowish stuff. It doesn’t have a caption and I’m not sure where it fits into the recipe…help me out?
It’s the egg and spinach before I added all the other ingredients
Those meatballs look delicious! I definitely want to try making them but with turkey instead of beef 🙂
Unrelated to meatballs….. A few weeks ago I told you about wedding cake ice cream. Well, last week I visited my in-laws in Ky and had bourbon ball ice cream at a local ice cream shop. Oh my, it was delicious and I totally thought about you! And btw, I really do eat more than just ice cream. 😉
Ohmygaaaaaaah!
Crap, I shouldn’t have linked to Shay’s blog! Spoiler alert! (I DVRd the show) (Yes, 36y.o. and watching that show) My fault. 🙂
These look so good! There’s just something about a big bowl of spaghetti and meatballs… just makes me feel all warm and cozy on the inside!
Just a couple ideas for you on more protein full snacks that aren’t dairy, because I was struggling with this too.
Gina over at fitnessista has her recipe for Amazeballs and her Baked Breakfast Cookies. Both are fabulous snacks and pack a protein punch. You should try them, I make them every week now.
I started watching The Bachelor for the first time this season because Katie was on it. As soon as she left, I stopped watching. The whole concept of the show is just weird to me. I am interested to see who Sean picks though. 🙂
Thank you for the Relay love.
sundried tomatoes are my favorite new thing. Can’t wait to try these! Thanks!
These were awesome! Made them last night and my entire family loved them. I was out of eggs so I subbed in flax meal/water (2 tbs flax meal and 3 tbs of water per egg). Completely delicious! Will be adding to my dinner rotation 🙂
Great recipe! I added in fire roasted peppers and WOW! Great meatballs that are very nicely flavored and healthy. Thanks!
Made this for dinner tonight, great way to end the weekend! Yum!
I only have fresh spinach on hand for dinner, how could I use it instead of the frozen spinach?
Yup! Wilt it first