Sunday, January 20, 2013

Don't Stop The Party


Where have I been? What the hell have I been doing in January of all months?  It's been 12 days since I've posted. In that time I've seen two movies, Silver Lining Playbook and Les Miserables ( though Les Mis seemed to last a whole day its own self).

How I rate a movie? If I don't leave my seat to go to the restroom once.  And I remained glued to the chair through both movies. 2 Thumbs up. And cheers to a movie theater that lets you take a latte or perhaps a hot cider with brandy to your seat and offers freshly popped corn.

I've trained, worked out at the gym and gone to two Zumba classes. I've walked the dog, cleaned up after the kittens, cooked some delicious meals and read a few unremarkable books.

I've cried over Downton Abbey and football games. And, just recently, made what seems an infinite number of red, white and blue arrangements for Inauguration parties.

I also did my part for the pot luck birthday luncheon we throw every year for the owner of our flower shop. She is an enviably healthy eater who, with every birthday, seems to cut more and more out of her diet.

Dairy and gluten have been invisible recently. But since she doesn't have a wheat allergy I decided to make Moroccan meatballs and sneak in just a few breadcrumbs.



I used 3 lbs. of ground beef from Whole Foods and added one and a half finely chopped onions, 6 minced cloves of garlic, a handful of chopped Italian parsley and copious amounts of ground cumin and paprika, several dashes of ground cinnamon and cayenne pepper, salt and black pepper, 3 eggs and 1 cup of panko breadcrumbs. This make about 60 meatballs.  I baked them in a 400 degree oven on foil lined baking sheets for about 15 minutes, flipping them over at the halfway mark.

Then I finished them off in the sauce I made using another finely diced onion, 4 cloves of garlic, the same spices, 2 cans of Cento plum tomatoes(28oz ea) and 3 cups of chicken stock. I added a few strands of saffron to the stock and more spices as the sauce reduced. At the end I threw in a handful of chopped parsley.  Finally, I served the meatballs strewn with toasted pine nuts, just cause I had them in the cupboard.

GG raved and said they had to make an appearance on the blog.  This is the recipe to the best of my recollection. We served them with a coworkers' quinoa, rice and chickpea pilaf, green beans with shallots and almonds, and roasted yellow sweet potatoes. There was a yogurt and cucumber salad, a parsley salad and piles of pita bread.

It was a feast and there were leftovers. Need I say more?

Oh yeah, Go Ravens!

18 comments:

  1. OK Jane: we're squared off for this football game! Let's text!

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    1. Shelley, I wondered about that. You're on. Talk later:-)

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  2. Jane, So good to see you popping in. Sounds like you have been busy. Loved Les Mis. Silver Linings is on my to see list. The meatballs look delicious! Enjoy your weekend. Bonnie

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  3. I missed you! Sounds like a great January so far and I swear if I ate meat, this recipe would be happening tonight. :)

    xo sarah

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  4. Busy, busy, busy! Don't stay away so long again, though, will you?

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  5. I need a good meatball recipe, and if GG raves that's good enough for me. Glad you've been busy and happy.

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  6. Not only do the meatballs sound amazing, it sounds like your whole meal came from a prix fixe five-course menu at a four-star restaurant.

    I made a big pot of chili for tonight's game. Oh yeah, go Patriots!

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    1. Making black bean and beef chili my-own-self. Here's to football. May the best team win fair and square!

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  7. We saw Silver Linings yesterday. Les Mis is on the schedule although years ago I saw it on stage in London . . . wonderful! I want to like the movie just as much . . .

    Meat ball recipe sounds yummy! Thank you!

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  8. Loved Siver Linings . . . sooo good.

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    1. Wasn't it? Reminds me why I love Zumba......dancing!

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  9. Loved both movies and hate that they are competing for the Oscar. Meatballs sound great. If Mitchell ever lets me back in the kitchen, i will try them.

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  10. Hello Jane

    Is it no wonder you had no time post. You have been extremely busy. Thanks for sharing your Moroccan meatball recipe. I have a beautiful decorative tagine and I could use it to serve this delicious dish.
    Helenxx

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  11. I've never made meatballs but I'm going to whip your recipe!

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  12. It must be Silver Linings weekend :) Fab movie. Broke my heart at times.
    Les Mis was awesome, too. Its a classic story for many reasons.

    I made peanut butter doggie bones and marionberry crumble tonight-treats for all the creatures of the house...watching the last of the football games ( Yea SF and go, Ravens!)before tonight's Downton-totally addicted to the Crawleys and their upper crust doings.

    Meatballs sound divine-I usually make Italian ones, but these sound really good too-thanks for sharing the recipe!

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  13. oh Madelief we haven't seen the end of the season yet we're just on the third episode.

    I quickly removed your comment so other Americans wouldn't read it.

    On a happier note, the Ravens did win and are going to the SuperBowl.

    And Obama is sworn in as the 57th President of the United States!

    all is well with the world.

    xo jane

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  14. Drooling over those meatballs!
    I haven't seen Les Mis yet, but I did see Silver Linings Playbook and I loved it!

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  15. Been wondering where you've been. I've been MIA myself, January is the laziest month. I'm stealing your delish recipe(s)!!! Yum. And I am sorry I will never ever ever ever root for a team that has Ray Lewis in it, which means they'll probably win the Super Bowl since every single one of my teams has lost, and by the way I hate the Patriots so rooting for them was hard. Go 49ners! Anyway glad to see you :)

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